Military Quality of LIfe and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2006

MILITARY QUALITY OF LIFE AND VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. NUSSLE. Mr. Chairman, when the Appropriations Committee realigned its subcommittees earlier this year, one of the larger challenges fell to the measure we are considering today--the Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill. The bill provides benefits, housing, and health care for our military troops and their families; and ensures that our veterans--who have given so much for our Nation--continue to receive pensions, readjustment benefits, loans, and medical care. I am pleased to rise in full support of the bill the appropriators have crafted.

MILITARY QUALITY OF LIFE

In structure, H.R. 2528 adds considerably to the previous Military Construction bill by including the Department of Veterans Affairs; the Defense Health Program; the military personnel base allowance and housing accounts; the military facilities, sustainment, restoration, and modernization accounts; the military environmental restoration accounts; and a number of small related agencies.

The bill is consistent with the levels established in H. Con. Res. 95, the House concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006, which Congress adopted as its fiscal blueprint on April 28th. It stays within the 302(b) allocation to the subcommittee, as provided by the full Appropriations Committee pursuant to the budget resolution. Consequently, it does not violate section 302(f) of the Budget Act, which prohibits consideration of bills in excess of the 302(b)s.

[I should note that the Congressional Budget Office [CBO] has recast the 2005 enacted levels into the new subcommittee structure for this year's appropriations bills, so we can make year-to-year comparisons. Also, please be aware that CBO's figures, which I am using, employ base figures and categories that may differ slightly from those published by the Appropriations Committee.]

H.R. 2528 provides $53.5 billion to the Department of Defense [DoD]. Of that amount, $20 billion is for the Defense Health Program, which provides top-notch medical care to our service members and their families at little or no cost to them. This amount represents a slight increase over the President's request and an increase of $1.8 billion over the 2005 enacted level. This bill also funds the military construction and family housing accounts used by DoD to provide our service members and their families quality housing. The funds made available in this bill for base allowance and housing--$13.3 billion--also ensure that those serving our country are able to afford to live in quality housing whether on or offbase. This represent an increase of $1.2 billion over the 2005 enacted level.

H.R. 2528 provides $31.5 billion in discretionary funds for the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA]. Most of this amount--$28.8 billion of it--is for the Veterans Health Administration, which provides medical care to our Nation's veterans, medical research, medical facilities, and medical administration. The largest component is medical care, which is funded at $21.0 billion, an increase of $745 million over the President's request and an increase of $1.1 billion, or 6 percent, over the 2005 enacted level. The bill does not include a medical care enrollment fee or an increase in prescription drug copayments. H.R. 2528 provides total discretionary funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs of $33.7 billion, an increase of $637 million above the President's request and an increase of $2.9 billion, or 9.5 percent, above the 2005 enacted level.

H.R. 2528 does not contain any emergency-designated BA, which is exempt from budget limits. The bill contains no rescission of previously enacted discretionary BA.

IOWA

I would also like to acknowledge a specific provision that benefits the National Guard in my State. The measure includes $431,000 for planning and design of a field maintenance shop at Readiness Center in Iowa City.

THE BUDGET RESOLUTION/CONCLUSION

As I have noted before, the budget resolution provides a total allocation for discretionary appropriations of $843 billion in fiscal year 2006. This relatively tight spending level requires significant effort by the Appropriations Committee to set priorities and make choices. As we continue the appropriations season, I commend Chairman Lewis and our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee for meeting the needs of the American public within the framework established by the budget resolution.

In conclusion, I express my support for H.R. 2528.

* [End Insert]

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/C?r109:./temp/~r1095dcHRg