Last week, President Trump signed H.R. 5895 into law a bill to fund the Department of Veterans Affairs, among other key components of our government. He signed the bill at a VA Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, surrounded by local leaders, Department of Veterans Affairs officials, and military veterans.
The legislation will ensure “full-year funding through September 30, 2019, for projects and activities of the Federal Government included in the following appropriations bills: Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (Division A); Legislative Branch Appropriations bill (Division B); and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (Division C).”
Record-level Funding to VA
The bill funds the Department of Veterans Affairs with $86.5 billion, which the White House says is the “largest dollar amount in history for the VA.” $73.1 billion of that funding will go to provide care and services for the 7 million patients the VA serves. The White House specifically highlighted the funding that will go to mental health programs, opioid abuse prevention, suicide prevention outreach, and rural veterans’ health programs. Other healthcare provided through the VA includes routine and illness care, injury care, outpatient services, and health screenings.
The new bill will also provide additional funding to improve the VA system, including previously passed VA MISSION ACT initiatives, and enhance the electronic records system that the VA currently uses to maintain health records and process eligibility. This is the largest VA spending bill that has been passed and signed.
“With this funding bill, we’ve increased the VA’s budget to the largest ever,” said President Trump at the signing. “We are delivering the resources needed to fully implement crucial VA reforms that, as you know, we’ve gotten,” he continued, alluding to the VA MISSION ACT reforms passed back in June and the VA Accountability Act passed last year.
It was an incredible honor to join @POTUS as he signed the Veterans funding bill. This bill, among other things, will fully meet the needs of our Veterans and continue to put Veterans first! pic.twitter.com/QsSz22UfZa
— Secretary Robert Wilkie (@SecWilkie) September 21, 2018
Funding for America’s Infrastructure
While the VA portion was the highlight of the signing event, other critical appropriations were also passed. Three of the 12 regular appropriations bills for 2019 were included in the legislation.
Other aspects will also benefit the military community. “The legislation provides $15.14 billion to support a strong nuclear national security strategy,” said a White House statement. The specifics of how those funds are used was not released, but the White House did say that over $11 billion will go to “maintain a strong deterrence posture,” $1.7 billion would go to the Navy’s nuclear assets, and $1.93 billion would go to “keep nuclear materials from getting in the hands of bad actors.”
The bill will also provide additional funding to military construction and research and development for the nation’s electric grid. The Army Corps of Engineers will be maintaining and improving navigation, waterway, and port infrastructure with $7 billion of funding.
Energy Infrastructure Budget Increases
The Department of Energy will also benefit from the legislation, with $13.4 billion to their energy programs. The White House drew attention to the $740 million that will go to furthering fossil energy technology and $1.2 billion that will be used to conduct research and development with nuclear energy.
The bill focuses on improving infrastructure to build the future of the military, energy sector, and VA. “With this legislation, we are securing a better future for our citizens,” said President Trump. “We are modernizing our nation’s infrastructure. And we are building military bases worthy of our great heroes. We are ensuring that our brave veterans are respected and cherished like never before.”
Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Mick Mulvaney called the funding “critical investments in our military, our veterans, and our Nation’s infrastructure” in a statement.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Michael K. Simpson (R-Idaho) in May of this year. It passed in the House and Senate in June.
