House Democrats Highlight How Republican Funding Bill Fails to Honor Our Commitment to Veterans

Press Release

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While I have appreciated the work we've done together over the past few years, unfortunately, I cannot support this bill for a variety of reasons,"

As part of the Republican's Default on America bill they just passed, they included no protections for veterans funding, despite making promises their proposed cuts would not impact veterans. Verbal promises clearly mean nothing when they could have included these protections in law -- ensuring veterans funding would not be subject to political funding battles -- and they made the conscious choice not to do so. On top of that, Republicans voted to immediately rescind $2 billion for veterans for claims processing and appeals, healthcare both within and outside of VA, research, and education and training for veterans. The bill before us today continues the Republican's disturbing trend that does not protect veterans. My friend, Chairman Carter was quoted in Punchbowl on Monday saying this FY24 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill is written to an imaginary topline -- so clearly, the bill before us is nothing more than a messaging bill. And the message Republicans are sending to the American people is they are not interested in protecting veterans. In spite of the imaginary top line of this bill, it still underfunds our commitment to our veterans."

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