Ranking Member Takano’s Statement on Republican’s Inadequate MilCon/VA Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, DC – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano released the following statement after Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee unveiled their Military Construction/VA appropriations bill today: 

“After many months of evasion, House Republicans have finally unveiled their plan for our nation’s veterans – and it isn’t nearly good enough. House Republicans have shortchanged the Toxic Exposure Fund. Republicans have removed protections for funding dedicated to toxic-exposed veterans and have gone further, providing only $5.5 billion of the Administration’s $20.3 billion budget request. This $14.7 billion shortfall removes protections for PACT Act implementation and could force VA to rob funds from other veteran programs in order to successfully implement the law.  

Moreover, while their proposed budget provides bare minimum funding to VA, we are bracing for a significant cut to services that veterans rely on, like SNAP, housing vouchers, and child care. Republicans have to find the cuts they voted for somewhere, and that will be cuts for homeless veterans, low-income veterans and their families, children, older Americans, and many others! Let’s be clear: a cut to other federal agencies will put more of a burden on VA and will impact the services it can provide veterans. All of this comes at a crucial time as VA has just begun implementing the PACT Act, and under this Republican proposal VA will have far less funding than is necessary to deliver the long overdue benefits provided by the law.  

This proposed budget is a gimmick to try and change the conversation after their disastrous $2 billion clawback of veterans’ healthcare in the Default on America Act. Veterans and their families should not be fooled.” 

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