Madam Speaker, I rise in support of HR 6599, a bill to fund U.S. military construction and maintenance and the operations of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill appropriates a total of $118.7 billion for military construction and veterans' programs, $10.3 billion more than the current level and $3.4 billion more than the president's request. This funding will provide compensation payments to millions of veterans and their survivors, pension payments and financial assistance to their widows and children, and is the primary support for their military related medical care.
The Veterans Affairs Department oversees the largest Federal medical care delivery system in the country, with 153 hospitals, 50 residential rehabilitation treatment centers, 135 nursing homes, and 1,089 outpatient clinics. The almost $94 billion set aside in this bill is a significant increase over the Administration’s request and will help fund medical administration, operations and maintenance of medical facilities such as Walter Reed, and important medical, trauma and mental health research. This bill also provides funding for the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).
We all know there is a massive military base closure and realignment underway in this country. The potential for increased traffic congestion at these new military facilities, such as the one being constructed in my district in Bethesda, Maryland can be disruptive for the citizens who currently live in these communities. I want to thank the Committee for working with me to insert language in this bill directing the Department of Defense to aggressively plan and budget for the Defense Access Roads programs that should help alleviate some of the pressure on the communities that are dealing with BRAC.
This nation has 23,500,000 veterans and 35,900,000 family members of living veterans and survivors of deceased veterans. That means close to 20 percent of this country’s total population are potential recipients of veterans benefits. We have a responsibility to support the past and present servicemembers and their families who have served and sacrificed for us. Providing quality healthcare and decent living conditions for them and their families is the least we can do for these brave men and women. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this important piece of legislation.