December 20, 2022
Chairman Takano Statement on the Fiscal Year 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Bill
Press Contact
Daniel Santa Cruz (202) 603-1929
RIVERSIDE, CA – Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Consolidated Appropriations bill, a bill that includes over $300 billion in funding to support veterans and their families – the largest budget ever for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These resources will expand access to services for veterans and will boost oversight and accountability across the Department.
“As the 117th Congress draws to a close, House Democrats have again shown our commitment to upholding our promise to care for those who have served, along with their families, caregivers, and survivors,” said Chairman Takano. “Over the past four years, the House Democratic majority have consistently shown up for veterans and done more than simply thank them for their service – we’ve backed up words with action, including passing bills to reduce veteran suicide, strengthen women veterans’ access to healthcare, make VA more accessible to all who served, and address the effects of toxic exposure. This year, House Democrats passed over 81 bills for veterans, including my Honoring our PACT Act – the largest expansion of veterans benefits in a generation. Funding in this year’s appropriations bill includes $5 billion for the Cost of War Toxic Exposure Fund. This fund ensures the PACT Act can be implemented effectively at VA and that the 3.5 million newly eligible veterans and others can get the care and benefits they have earned.
“One of my top priorities as Chairman has been to reduce veteran suicide, which is why I’m proud that this bill includes my STRONG Veterans Act. My bipartisan and bicameral bill takes meaningful steps to address gaps along the spectrum of suicide prevention and mental health care, expand mental health outreach to traditionally underserved veterans, better equip VA’s workforce to provide mental health care, and strengthen VA’s crisis response system. I look forward to seeing this provision implemented.
“I am also thrilled this bill incorporates several pieces of legislation championed by members of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. From strengthening benefits for disabled veterans to ensuring VA is held accountable to its ongoing projects, the provisions introduced or co-sponsored by Representatives Brownley, Levin, Pappas, Mrvan, Underwood, Allred, Slotkin, and Gallego each taking meaningful actions to ensure VA has what it needs to work on behalf of all veterans.
“The $300 billion provided to VA in this year’s appropriations bill is demonstrative of House Democrats’ commitment to honoring the sacrifices veterans have made on behalf of our country, and lives up to our promises to support them and their families by acknowledging the true cost of war. I look forward to getting this bill to President Biden’s desk and quickly delivering the resources VA needs to help care for our veterans and their families.”
BACKGROUND: The FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations bill includes over $300 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs – including $134.7 in discretionary funding, a $22.5 billion increase over FY 22. These resources will serve to expand access to services for veterans and will boost oversight and accountability across VA. This year’s bill includes:
“As the 117th Congress draws to a close, House Democrats have again shown our commitment to upholding our promise to care for those who have served, along with their families, caregivers, and survivors,” said Chairman Takano. “Over the past four years, the House Democratic majority have consistently shown up for veterans and done more than simply thank them for their service – we’ve backed up words with action, including passing bills to reduce veteran suicide, strengthen women veterans’ access to healthcare, make VA more accessible to all who served, and address the effects of toxic exposure. This year, House Democrats passed over 81 bills for veterans, including my Honoring our PACT Act – the largest expansion of veterans benefits in a generation. Funding in this year’s appropriations bill includes $5 billion for the Cost of War Toxic Exposure Fund. This fund ensures the PACT Act can be implemented effectively at VA and that the 3.5 million newly eligible veterans and others can get the care and benefits they have earned.
“One of my top priorities as Chairman has been to reduce veteran suicide, which is why I’m proud that this bill includes my STRONG Veterans Act. My bipartisan and bicameral bill takes meaningful steps to address gaps along the spectrum of suicide prevention and mental health care, expand mental health outreach to traditionally underserved veterans, better equip VA’s workforce to provide mental health care, and strengthen VA’s crisis response system. I look forward to seeing this provision implemented.
“I am also thrilled this bill incorporates several pieces of legislation championed by members of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. From strengthening benefits for disabled veterans to ensuring VA is held accountable to its ongoing projects, the provisions introduced or co-sponsored by Representatives Brownley, Levin, Pappas, Mrvan, Underwood, Allred, Slotkin, and Gallego each taking meaningful actions to ensure VA has what it needs to work on behalf of all veterans.
“The $300 billion provided to VA in this year’s appropriations bill is demonstrative of House Democrats’ commitment to honoring the sacrifices veterans have made on behalf of our country, and lives up to our promises to support them and their families by acknowledging the true cost of war. I look forward to getting this bill to President Biden’s desk and quickly delivering the resources VA needs to help care for our veterans and their families.”
BACKGROUND: The FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations bill includes over $300 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs – including $134.7 in discretionary funding, a $22.5 billion increase over FY 22. These resources will serve to expand access to services for veterans and will boost oversight and accountability across VA. This year’s bill includes:
- $118.7 billion for Veterans Medical Care to meet veterans’ comprehensive health care needs, including:
- $13.9 billion for mental healthcare to provide treatment and support for the 2 million veterans receiving mental health services,
- $840.5 million for women’s health, to help VA deliver gender-specific healthcare services, as well as retrofit its facilities to create a more welcoming environment
- $498 million for suicide prevention outreach
- $183.3 million for substance use disorder programs
- $663 million for opioid abuse prevention
- $2.7 billion for Homeless Assistance Programs to better reach homeless veterans
- $3.9 billion for administering benefits, including disability compensation and burial benefits, to more than 6 million veterans and their survivors, including:
- $430 million for the National Cemetery Administration
- $285 million for the Board of Veterans’ Appeals
- $50 million for grants to State and Tribal cemeteries
- $442.7 million in discretionary appropriations for related agencies, including:
- $156 million for Arlington National Cemetery
- $87.5 million for the American Battle Monuments Commission
- $152 million for the Armed Forces Retirement Home
- $46.9 million for the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
- $5 billion to the Cost of War Toxic Exposure Fund to ensure that the PACT Act continues to be implemented at VA and that the 3.5 million newly eligible veterans and others can get the care and benefits they have earned
- $5.8 billion for strengthening VA information technology systems
- $2.7 billion to end and prevent veteran homelessness
House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Members with bills Included in the FY 2023 appropriations bill:
Chairman Mark Takano
Chairman Mark Takano
- H.R. 6411 – STRONG Veterans Act
- H.R. 5317 – VA Governors Challenge Expansion Act
- H.R. 7589 – REMOVE Copays Act
- H.R. 5721 – VIPER Act
Rep. Julia Brownley
- H.R. 7158 – Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act
- H.R. 912 – American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans Mental Health Act
Rep. Mike Levin
- H.R. 4772 – Mark O’Brien VA Clothing Allowance Improvement Act
- H.R. 4657 – Veteran Home Energy Savings Act
Rep. Chris Pappas
- H.R. 2935 – VA Beneficiary Debt Collection Improvement Act
- H.R. 2704 – Improving VA Accountability to Prevent Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Act of 2021
- H.R. 2082 – VA Supply Chain Resiliency Act
Rep. Frank Mrvan
- H.R. 2250 – Department of Veterans Affairs Information Technology Act of 2022
Rep. Lauren Underwood
- H.R. 5603 – Protections for Student Veterans Act
Reps. Colin Allred and Elissa Slotkin
- H.R. 4880 – Veterans Prostate Cancer Treatment and Research Act
Rep. Ruben Gallego
- H.R. 2775 – VA Quality Health Care Accountability and Transparency Act
- H.R. 2726 – VA FOIA Reform Act
- H.R. 2878 – Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program Act
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