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House passes MILCON/VA appropriations bill
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo yesterday announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 4974, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2017, by a vote of 295 yeas to 129 noes. The bill fully funds President Obama’s budget request of $248,685,000 for military construction for Guam. These projects were authorized by H.R. 4909, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, which passed the House last night.
H.R. 4974 also includes report language sponsored by Bordallo that requires the GAO to review the staffing, outreach, scheduling, and access management practices at the VA’s Pacific Islands Healthcare System, which has jurisdiction over Guam. This language was adopted by the Appropriations Committee in April.
“Today the House continued to demonstrate our commitment to the Marine realignment and support for improving veterans services on Guam. H.R. 4974 fully funds military construction projects on Guam requested by the President and authorized by the defense authorization bill that passed last night. These funds are also included in the Senate bill that passed the Senate Appropriations Committee last month and is currently being considered on the floor. I look forward to protecting these funds during conference committee and enacting them into law later this year,” said Bordallo.
