FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 27, 2008
MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Mackowiak
Congress Approves FY 2009 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Spending Bill
Bill Funds Health Care, Research, Infrastructure and Facilities for MilCon and VA
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) today announced final passage, by a vote of 78-12, of the Fiscal Year 2009 Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations bill. The broad spending package provides disaster assistance, full year defense, military construction and veteran’s affairs, and homeland security funding, as well as continuing appropriations for various government agencies and priority programs through March of next year. The bill appropriates funds for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and military construction through the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Overall, the Military Construction part of the bill provides a total of $2.743 billion for Texas. It will now be sent to the President to be signed into law.
The legislation will provide $10.8 billion for active duty military construction and $1.35 billion for construction of National Guard and Reserve related components. More than $3.1 billion is for family housing construction and operations, and $230.8 million will be utilized for the NATO Security Investment Program.
“This funding will improve not only the facilities used by our soldiers but also the quality of life for all of those living on our military bases,” said Sen. Hutchison. “I will continue to do all I can to support our courageous men and women who selflessly defend American freedom.”
Sen. Hutchison secured more than $1.3 billion for regular military construction projects in Texas, including $42.8 million for Fort Hood and $1.3 million for Sheppard Air Force Base. Sen. Hutchison also secured more than $1.2 billion for Base Realignment and Closure projects in Texas, including more than $610 million for Fort Sam Houston and $384 million for Fort Bliss.
The legislation will also provide more than $94.4 billion to fund the VA. This includes $46.7 billion for mandatory veterans’ benefits and $47.6 billion in discretionary spending. Legislative highlights include $31 billion for medical services, $5.02 billion for medical facilities, and $510 million for medical and prosthetic research.
“Caring for our veterans who have defended American freedom on the battlefield is one of our most solemn responsibilities,” said Sen. Hutchison. “This funding supports much-needed medical services and cutting-edge research to improve medical care for our veterans.”
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