Only One Senate Democrat Votes for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill

Press Release

Congressman Kevin Cramer released the following statement after only one Democrat member of the U.S. Senate voted to allow debate to proceed on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (VA) Appropriations bill. The vote was 50 -- 44. Senate rules require 60 votes in favor before proceeding with a final vote.

"While veterans languish in a broken Veterans Affairs medical system, Democrats filibuster funding and reforms designed to ensure our veterans receive the best standard of care possible. Construction projects vital to national defense and our armed services remain on the drawing board because Senate Democrats are more interested in increasing funding to other federal agencies like the EPA and IRS. In an increasingly dangerous world, it is time to stop playing partisan games with funding for our military. The Senate needs to ensure our armed forces and our veterans receive the benefits and resources they have earned."

One section in the bill important to veterans in North Dakota is the directive to the VA to find solutions to help veterans access local health care if they live 40-miles from a VA medical facility. Cramer and Senator John Hoeven have been pushing for this reform.

The House passed H.R. 2029, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2016 on April 30. The legislation included $7.3 million for Air National Guard Intel Targeting Facilities in Fargo.

The continued use of the filibuster to prevent action on spending bills by Senate Democrats has caused some to call for the Senate to reform its filibuster rules. Cramer is co-sponsoring H.Res 421, advocating for filibuster reform.

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