House Republicans ‘ proposal to fund the Department of Veterans Affairs and military development for fiscal 2025 will be blocked by President Joe Biden.
The White House Office of Management and Budget criticized the GOP plan on Monday as “partisan”, contending the appropriations act “would result in serious cuts to law enforcement, education, housing, medical, consumer safety, energy programs that lower utility bills and combat climate change, and necessary nutrition services“.
” Similar to last year, H. R. 8580 includes numerous, partisan coverage provisions with disastrous consequences, including affecting access to biological healthcare, threatening the health and safety of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, gay, and transgender Americans, endangering marriage equality, hindering important climate change initiatives, and preventing the administration from promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion“, OMB wrote in a policy statement.
Other objections are to sections of the bill preventing:
• the closure or realignment of Guantanamo Bay or the redesignation of American facilities for Guantanamo Bay detainees who have been transferred.
• The VA refrains from using funds to implement, administer, or otherwise implement the final rule, which made it easier for veterans and VA beneficiaries to access abortion counseling and abortion in some limited circumstances.  ,
• The VA refrains from using funds to pay for the use of hormone replacement therapy and surgical procedures for the purpose of gender transition-related procedures.
• The VA refrains from following a departmental directive to make sure the majority of the Veterans Health Administration’s healthcare staff receives the COVID-19 vaccine.  ,
• The VA is prohibited from disclosing a person’s mental incompetence during the VA benefits evaluation process without a judge’s, magistrate’s, or other judicial official’s approval.
• The use of funds to display any but the listed flags, including flags demonstrating support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex veterans and American citizens.
• Using funds authorized by the bill or previous appropriations bills to “discriminate” against those who do n’t support same-sex unions because of their” sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction.”
The Biden administration also opposes the bill’s shifting of funding for military construction from priority projects to other initiatives.
The House Appropriations Committee passed H. R. 8580 34 , to 25 last month, with Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee Chairman John Carter ( R- TX ) asserting that , the bill “reflects our deep commitment to our servicemembers, both during their active- duty service and when they become veterans”.
In a statement, Carter said,” It addresses pressing security issues in the Pacific while ensuring our heroes receive the care they deserve.” By fully funding veterans ‘ healthcare and funding improvements to quality of life like housing and child care, we uphold our commitment to serving the people.
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Tom Cole, chairman of the Appropriations Committee (R-OK ), stated that the bill is” a testament to our devotion to caring for those who selflessly served our country, supporting our military families, and strengthening America’s defense.”
We’ve given our veterans ‘ healthcare and benefits full funding, and we’ve given our loved ones and our troops ‘ lives priority, he wrote. By supporting crucial deterrence efforts in the Indo-Pacific, we also strengthen America’s commitment to peace through strength.
