Congressman Carter (R-TX31) and the House of Representatives voted to make veterans a priority Wednesday evening by passing the Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill as the first funding bill of the year.  This is the earliest the House has passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill since 1974.

This legislation provides quality of life for our men and women in uniform and our veterans by providing $71.5 billion in discretionary funds. The legislation:

• Increases funding for veterans’ programs by $1.5 billion
• Provides $6.6 billion for military construction projects – like family housing, medical units, and education and training facilities
• Provides $64.7 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs
• Provides $45 billion to go towards VA medical services, including funding for mental health and suicide prevention

“Between the VA backlogs and now the allegations of secret waiting lists for medical care in Phoenix, it is clearer than ever that the Obama administration is not fulfilling its promises to our nation’s heroes,” said Congressman John Carter, Co-Chair of the House Army Caucus and Representative of Fort Hood. “The House of Representatives is fighting the tide against the White House’s sequester and Senate’s inaction, but we will not give up.

The terrible shooting at Fort Hood last month opened a deep wound in our community.  I am fighting for the Fort Hood victims through every avenue possible, including this legislation. I was able to place a requirement in this bill that the VA report to the Appropriations Committee by July 15. This report would include a detailed analysis of the benefits and medical care the victims of the Fort Hood 2009 shooting are eligible for under the Administration’s current classification, and how these compare to the benefits and medical care they would receive now and into the future if this event were classified as an act of terrorism.

This bill will not only help our veterans, but it will help bring the victims of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting closer to justice. I will not stop fighting for the brave men and women who suffered at the hand of terrorist Nidal Hasan. I will not quit until we overcome President Obama’s declaration of ‘workplace violence’ and label this attack for what it really was – an act of terror.

Our soldiers are not only fighting a war abroad, they are fighting a war at home. When they return after deployment many battle with PTSD, reintegration into society, and sometimes even physical injuries. When we are fighting a war for over a decade, programs to help veterans are more important than ever. We must support funding these programs at sustainable levels.

I’m proud that the House has passed this bill as the first appropriations bill of the FY 2015 appropriations season. The timeliness of this legislation is not only symbolic of the House’s dedication to veterans; it provides concrete resources and care for our servicemembers. I urge the Senate and the President to support it.”