The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) April 15 approved by a voice vote its fiscal year (FY) 2016 spending bill. The entire measure represents a $4.6 billion increase over the FY 2015 enacted level, but comes in $1.2 billion below the president’s budget to align with spending allocations under sequestration.
For VA Medical and Prosthetic Research, the bill would provide $607 million, an $18 million (3 percent) increase over FY 2015. The president’s budget requested $622 million for VA research [see Washington Highlights, Feb. 6] in line with the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) coalition recommendation. AAMC serves on the FOVA executive committee.
The measure would provide $63.3 billion in fiscal 2017 advance appropriations for VA medical services, facilities, support and compliance, matching the president’s request.
The full committee is expected to consider the measure April 22.