Department of Veterans Affairs FY2017 Appropriations

Summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a range of benefits and services to veterans and eligible dependents who meet certain criteria as authorized by law. These benefits include medical care, disability compensation and pensions, education, vocational rehabilitation and employment services, assistance to homeless veterans, home loan guarantees, administration of life insurance as well as traumatic injury protection insurance for servicemembers, and death benefits that cover burial expenses.

The President’s FY2017 budget request for the VA was submitted to Congress on February 9, 2016. The President’s FY2017 request for VA is approximately $177.54 billion. This amount, which includes $102.53 billion in mandatory funding and $75.01 billion in discretionary appropriations, is a 9.14% increase over the FY2016-enacted level of $162.67 billion.

On April 13, 2016, the House Appropriations Committee approved its version of the FY2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MILCON-VA) appropriations bill (H.R. 4974; H.Rept. 114-497). The House passed the measure on May 19. The House-passed measure provides a total of $176.06 billion for the VA, a slight decrease (0.83%) from the President’s request of $177.54 billion and an 8.23% increase from the FY2016-enacted amount. This amount includes $102.53 billion in mandatory appropriations and $73.53 billion in discretionary appropriations.

On April 14, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the FY2017 MILCON-VA appropriations bill (S. 2806; S.Rept. 114-237). The Senate passed the FY2017 MILCON-VA appropriations bill on May 19 as an appropriations package that included the FY2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) appropriations bill (Division A); the FY2017 MILCON-VA appropriations bill (Division B), and the Zika Response appropriations bill (Title V of Division B). The Senate-passed version of the FY2017 MILCON-VA appropriations bill (Division B of H.R. 2577) provides a total of $177.39 billion for VA, a 9.04% increase over the FY2016-enacted level of $162.67 billion and slightly less than the President’s request for FY2017. This amount includes $102.53 billion in mandatory appropriations and $74.85 in discretionary appropriations.

On May 26, 2016, the House concurred with the Senate amendment with an amendment consisting of the text of H.R. 4974, H.R. 5243, and H.R. 897, as passed by the House (H.Res. 751). On June 22, the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee filed a conference agreement (H.R. 2577; H.Rept. 114-640). The Division A conference agreement (H.R. 2577; H.Rept. 114-640) contained the FY2017 MILCON-VA appropriations bill. The conference agreement would provide $176.89 billion for VA for FY2017. Although the House passed the conference agreement the Senate has voted not to invoke cloture on the conference agreement.