Full Committee Approves $133.9 Billion Military And VA Appropriation

The Senate Appropriations Committee has voted 21-0 to approve and send to the Senate floor a $133.9 billion spending measure, including $23.6 billion for military and veterans' administration construction. The Senate version of the bill is slightly bigger than the parallel House appropriation, and includes $5.7 billion for construction at military hospitals and dispensaries, $1.9 billion for construction at VA hospitals and clinics, $12.6 billion for construction at active military bases and reserve centers, $2 billion for construction of military family housing, and $1.4 billion for military construction in Afghanistan. The bill was approved by a subcommittee just yesterday.