July 13, 2017

Manchin Votes to Pass Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill Out of Committee

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today voted for 2018 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to be passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“As a new member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am pleased to help draft and vote for legislation that increases funding for veterans and service members who work tirelessly to protect our country,” Senator Manchin said. “I’m especially excited about a few key features of this bill. Utilizing abandoned mine lands and surface reclamation sites for the U.S. Special Operation’s Command allows our soldiers to be combat-ready while using existing U.S. infrastructure. Repairs to the National Guard Readiness Centers ensure our National Guards have the resources to face challenges at home and abroad. Lastly, our veterans at home are taken care of thanks to improvements in vocational rehabilitation and employment centers and through efforts to battle the opioid epidemic in our rural communities. Our veterans and their families put everything on the line for our freedom, and we owe them our unwavering support in return.”

“The West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance is thankful to have Senator Manchin’s leadership as part of the Senate Appropriations Committee. We operate critical facilities, such as the West Virginia Veterans Nursing Facility and the West Virginia Veterans Home, that rely heavily on federal dollars. We appreciate Senator Manchin’s leadership and support for legislation that helps veterans across the state and the nation,” said Dennis Davis, Cabinet Secretary, West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance.

The legislation provides more than $192 billion in total funding to meet the needs of the U.S. military and Department of Veterans Affairs. The legislation includes $88.9 billion in discretionary funding to meet the mission-critical and quality-of-life infrastructure requirements of our military service members and families. $70.7 billion is provided in fiscal year 2019 advance funding for veterans health care and $107.7 billion for the VA’s compensations and mandatory accounts.

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