Rep. Boebert Votes to Increase Funding for Veterans’ Benefits
Today, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert voted to increase funding for veterans’ benefits by over $1.5 billion more than the discretionary funding level containing in the Democrats’ Appropriation’s bill last year. Additionally, the Appropriations bill contained six of Congresswoman Boebert’s amendments that passed the House yesterday with unanimous, bipartisan consent to redirect an additional $13,000,000 to directly assisting veterans.
Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03) stated, “My support for the members of our military does not end when their service is complete. Colorado is home to one of the largest veteran populations in the Nation—many of whom reside in rural areas. I work every day to deliver results for these heroes who have entrusted me to be their Representative in Congress. I have a strong record supporting our veterans. This week alone, I passed six amendments through the House to increase funding for veterans’ care by $13,000,000 and voted to increase funding for veterans’ benefits by over $1.5 billion. I have also returned over $506,000 to veterans in Colorado’s Third District via constituent casework, voted for the VA Transparency and Trust Act of 2021, voted for the Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act, helped restart Honor Flights after the pandemic, helped reopen the National Personnel Records Center, and voted for and cosponsored legislation that helps our veterans.”
Background:
H.R. 4366, the FY24 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs (VA), and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, fully funds veterans’ healthcare programs, VA modernization initiatives, and veterans’ benefits to ensure that our veterans receive the care they have earned. It also fully funds programs assisting veterans to address toxic exposure issues and ensure that our veterans are fully cared for.
The bill also includes funding that will increase the quality of life for servicemembers and their families across the country by allocating over $17 billion for military housing and over $293 million for constructing new child development centers. Additionally, the appropriations bill funds projects that will improve the quality of life on military bases across the country by building new infrastructure.
Congresswoman Boebert’s extensive record serving the veterans of Colorado’s Third District is available here.
The appropriations bill also included six of Congresswoman Boebert’s amendments that will redirect an additional $13,000,000 to directly assisting veterans. Congresswoman Boebert’s six amendments that passed the House with unanimous, bipartisan consent include:
Boebert Amendment No. 89
Redirects $2,000,000 and provides additional funding for the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, veterans’ telehealth, and healthcare for veterans living in rural areas. The Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program supports suicide prevention programs in Colorado’s Third District, including veterans’ services in Pueblo, Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano, Las Animas, Otero, Rio Grande, and Saguache counties.
Boebert Amendment No. 65
Redirects $3,000,000 and provides additional funding for increasing resources for medical research and prosthetic research. This funding will ensure that our veterans receive cutting-edge medical care from the VA.
Boebert Amendment No. 71
Redirects $2,000,000 and provides additional funding for helping the Board of Veterans’ Appeals reduce its backlog so that veterans’ claims can be adjudicated in a timely manner. The current backlog exceeds 200,000 cases and has prevented veterans from receiving the care they earned in a timely manner.
Boebert Amendment No. 91
Redirects $2,000,000 and provides additional funding for the National Cemetery Administration to increase access to burial benefits for veterans.
Boebert Amendment No. 92
Redirects $2,000,000 and provides additional funding grants for Construction of Veterans Cemeteries program to assist state and tribal governments in providing burial benefits for veterans in rural areas lacking a VA national cemetery.
Boebert Amendment No. 93
Redirects $2,000,000 and provides additional funding for the construction of new state extended care facilities for veterans.