Committee Approves FY25 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill

May 23, 2024
Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The measure was approved by the Committee with a vote of 34 to 25.

PR

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee Chairman John Carter (R-TX) said, “This bill reflects our deep commitment to our servicemembers, both during their active-duty service and when they become veterans. It addresses critical security challenges in the Pacific while ensuring our heroes receive the care they deserve. By fully funding veterans' healthcare and investing in quality-of-life improvements such as housing and childcare, we uphold our promise to support those who serve. I'm glad to see the bill pass full committee today and look forward to getting it across the finish line. Thank you to Chairman Cole for his leadership and guidance throughout this process.”

Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said, “This FY25 legislation is a testament to our dedication to caring for those who selflessly served our nation, supporting our military families, and strengthening America’s defense. We’ve fully funded health care and benefits for our veterans and ensured the quality of life of our troops and their loved ones are prioritized. We also enhance America’s commitment to peace through strength by investing in key deterrence efforts in the Indo-Pacific. We are keeping our promises to those who’ve sworn the sacred oath to protect the nation. I thank Chairman Carter for his exceptional work and am proud this measure has been advanced.”

Subcommittee Chairman Carter’s opening remarks are available here.

Chairman Cole's opening remarks are available here.

Fiscal Year 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill

The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill includes a total discretionary allocation of $147.520 billion for the Department of Defense (Military Construction and Family Housing), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and related agencies. The defense portion of the allocation is $17.957 billion ($412 million above the FY25 Budget Request), and the non-defense portion of the allocation is $129.563 billion.

In addition, the bill provides $231.124 billion for mandatory programs for a total of $378.644 billion in overall funding.

Key Takeaways

  • Honors our commitment to veterans by:
    • Fully funding veterans’ health care programs.
    • Fully funding veterans’ benefits and VA programs.
  • Bolsters our national security by:
    • Providing robust funding for the Indo-Pacific region, fully funding projects in Guam, and increasing resources for INDOPACOM to improve the Department of Defense posture in the region.
    • Maintaining the prohibitions on the closure of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and the use of military construction funds to build facilities for detainees on U.S. soil.
  • Focuses the Executive Branch on its core responsibilities by:
    • Reaffirming the political limits outlined in the Hatch Act, particularly those of lobbying Congress and using official resources for political purposes.
    • Prohibiting the use of funds to promote or advance critical race theory.
    • Prohibiting the implementation, administration, or enforcement of the Biden Administration’s executive orders on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Supports American values and principles by:
    • Prohibiting taxpayer dollars from being used for abortion, using Hyde language which includes exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother.
    • Protecting the 2nd Amendment rights of veterans, preventing VA from sending information to the FBI about veterans without a judge’s consent.
    • Prohibiting VA from processing medical care claims for illegal aliens.

A summary of the bill is available here.

During the markup, Committee Republicans refused amendments offered by the Democrats that would have:

  • Allowed taxpayer dollars to be used for abortion.
  • Restricted the Second Amendment rights of veterans. 
  • Allowed VA to continue processing health care claims for illegal aliens detained by ICE. 
  • Funded gender-affirming care procedures and therapies.
  • Promoted or advanced critical race theory.
  • Funded unnecessary and polarizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
  • Opened the door for Americans to be targeted for their religious beliefs.
  • Allowed the Department of Veterans Affairs to lobby Congress, violating the Hatch Act.
  • Allowed the Administration to execute burdensome climate change Executive Orders. 
  • Reimplemented the COVID-19 mask mandate. 
  • Dropped longstanding provisions prohibiting the closure of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay and the use of military construction funds to build a detention center in the United States or territories, which would have allowed the transfer of dangerous terrorists to U.S. soil.

Adopted Amendments

  • Carter (Manager’s Amendment) - makes technical, bipartisan changes to the report.
    • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
  • Carter (En Bloc) - includes accountability and programmatic measures regarding community care centers, delayed facilities, the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and disciplinary actions for sexual harassment and misconduct. 
    • The amendment was adopted by a vote of 33 to 24.

Bill text, before adoption of amendments, is available here.

Bill report, before adoption of amendments, is available here.

A table of included Community Project Funding requests is available here.

 

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