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Senate leader aims for MilCon-VA passage Tuesday
By Humberto Sanchez CongressDaily November 6, 2009
The Senate on Friday resumed work on the $133.9 billion fiscal 2010
Military Construction-VA Appropriations bill, which Senate Democratic
leaders hope to pass before Veterans Day.
That gives the Senate Monday and Tuesday to finish the measure before
recessing for the week. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said
he hopes the Senate will be able to begin voting on amendments Monday
evening.
"In years past we have finished this bill in a couple of hours," Reid
said. He added that wrangling with Republicans has slowed the Senate's
progress on annual spending legislation this year.
The bill provides $109 billion for the Veterans Affairs Department,
including $53.2 billion in discretionary funding, $150 million above
Obama's request. Total medical care funding for the VA is $44.7 billion,
$4.2 billion over fiscal 2009.
The legislation also approves $23.2 billion for military construction
projects, $286 million more than Obama's request.
For the first time, the bill includes pre-approved appropriations --
$48.2 billion for fiscal 2011 -- for the VA's medical programs, as a way
to ensure uninterrupted funding.
Military Construction-VA Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Tim
Johnson, D-S.D., said on Friday he plans to offer an amendment to add
$50 million to VA funding to renovate empty buildings and VA medical
campuses to provide housing and services to homeless veterans.
Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., said he intends to offer an amendment to add $6
million to the VA's Grant and Per Diem program, which provides capital
and operational resources to assist homeless veterans. The amendment
would boost funding in the program to $150 million.
Johnson said he intends to accept Udall's amendment. |