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House OKs 2009 VA, construction spending

With the threat of a presidential veto looming, the House passed a $118 billion veterans and military construction funding bill Friday by a 409-4 vote.

The White House isn’t threatening to veto this bill, which includes $93.7 billion for veterans and $24.8 billion for military facilities; rather, it is threatening to veto all other federal funding bills unless they are reduced by the House’s proposal to add $3.4 billion to the Bush administration’s request for veterans’ spending. The Senate’s version of the bill proposes to spend $4.4 billion more than the administration requested.

The House bill provides $24.8 billion for construction on military bases, more than $400 million above the president’s request. That includes $336 million for quality-of-life projects such as improvements in housing for military trainees and in health care facilities.

Included in the $93.7 billion for veterans is $47.7 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans’ medical care, claims processors and facility improvements. An additional $100 million would allow VA to increase the mileage reimbursement rate for veterans traveling to VA centers for care to 41.5 cents per mile from the current 28.5 cents.

It also would include $1.6 billion to provide veterans with new-generation prosthetics, $116 million above the president’s request.

The House bill also would provide $200 million for fee-based services to improve access to care for veterans in areas where VA facilities are not available.