Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill Passes In Senate, Veto Not Anticipated

Main Category: Veterans / Ex-Servicemen
Article Date: 11 Sep 2007 - 5:00 PDT

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The Senate on Thursday voted 92-1 to pass the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations bill (HR 2642), which exceeds President Bush's budget request by $4 billion and includes additional funding for veterans' health care, the AP/Lincoln Journal Star reports. The only dissenting vote was cast by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) (Taylor, AP/Lincoln Journal Star, 9/7).

In May, the White House issued a veto threat, but with an override likely, the administration retreated from that position in its official policy statement Tuesday. The White House now indicates that Bush will sign the bill but says that Congress should identify cuts elsewhere to offset the increases. The legislation would provide $65 billion in discretionary spending and $41 billion in disability benefits (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/6).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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