Milcon-VA Appropriations Conference Agreement Introduced as Separate Legislation in House Wednesday

Press Release

MILCON-VA APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE AGREEMENT INTRODUCED AS SEPARATE LEGISLATION IN HOUSE WEDNESDAY

Rep. Wicker, House GOP Leaders Urge Leadership To Pass It By Veterans' Day

U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker introduced the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations conference agreement as a stand-alone bill (HR 4104) Wednesday night and urged the House leadership to act swiftly to pass the measure so that the President can sign it before Veterans Day.

Rep. Wicker is the ranking Republican on the MilCon-VA Subcommittee. He was joined by Rep. Jerry Lewis, the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee, and the House GOP leadership in this effort. They offered the legislation after Senate Republicans successfully split the Labor-HHS-Education and MilCon-VA portions of the omnibus conference report approved by the House Tuesday. The new version contains the entirety of the MilCon-VA legislation included in the conference report. Wicker noted the package has already won House approval once this week and could be taken up again Thursday, passed immediately, sent to the Senate and on to President.

"Enough with the delays. Enough with the political gamesmanship," Rep. Wicker said. "It is time to do the right thing and pass this good bill to fund veterans programs, benefits and services, and advance vital military constructions projects."

Rep. Wicker said the House-version of the bill was passed by a 409-2 vote in June and the Senate passed its version of the bill by a similar overwhelming margin in September. It is expected that the conference agreement would garner wide bipartisan support, and President Bush has indicated his willingness to sign it into law. "It is outrageous that we are now on the eve of Veterans Day and this legislation is still being used as a political football. Our nation's veterans deserve better. The American people deserve better," Wicker said.

The Congressman noted the strong bipartisan nature in which the bill was crafted and voiced support for the increase in funding it provides for medical services, VA hospitals and clinics. "It is unfortunate that such an effort has been tied up in a partisan struggle that is unrelated to the merits of the bill. But we can do the right thing now as this Veterans Day approaches by sending these resources on their way to the men and women who have served us so honorably," Wicker said.

Original cosponsors also include Reps. Bill Young (R-FL), Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), John Carter (R-TX) and Kay Granger (R-TX), all members of the MilCon-VA Appropriations Subcommittee.

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