The Department of Veterans Affairs would get an $18 billion budget bump next year under a plan released by House Republicans on Tuesday amid a knockdown, drag-out political fight over raising the U.S. debt ceiling.
The GOP bill would give the VA about $153 billion in discretionary funding in 2024, up from $135 billion that the department got this year — and slightly above the $143 billion the Biden administration requested for next year.
The bill gives Republicans concrete numbers to point to as they rebut Biden administration accusations that their plans to slash overall government spending in 2024 would mean cuts to the VA and veteran services.
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“House Republicans have repeatedly vowed that there will be no cuts to the care and benefits our veterans deserve, and the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill delivers on that promise,” House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger, R-Texas; VA appropriations subcommittee Chairman John Carter, R-Texas; and House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., said in a joint statement.
“This bill sends a clear message: Our commitment to taking care of our nation’s veterans will never waver,” they added.
The release of the VA spending bill came hours before President Joe Biden and congressional leaders were scheduled to have a meeting…
