August 10, 2001

VA-HUD Bill Heads for Conference

Both the House of Representatives and Senate have passed their respective versions of the FY 2002 VA, HUD and Independent Agencies appropriations bill, clearing the bill for a conference committee. The House passed its version (H.R. 2620) on July 30, providing $371 million for VA medical and prosthetics research, an increase of $20.8 million (5.9 percent) over FY 2001; $20.28 billion for VA medical care, an increase of $1.04 billion (5.1 percent); and $4.84 billion for the National Science Foundation (NSF), an increase of $414 million (9.4 percent), including $3.64 billion for NSF research, an increase of $300 million (9.0 percent). The Senate approved its version (S. 1216) on Aug. 2, providing $390 million for VA medical and prosthetics research, an increase of $39.8 million (11.4 percent) over FY 2001; $20.38 billion for VA medical care, an increase of $1.14 billion (5.6 percent); and $4.67 billion for the National Science Foundation (NSF), an increase of $256 million (5.8 percent), including $3.51 billion for NSF research, an increase of $170 million (5.1 percent).

Information: Jonathan Fishburn, AAMC Office of Governmental Relations, 202-828-0525.