Washington, DC—June 5, 2024…Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) voted in support of the Fiscal Year 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives today. This bill exceeds the Department of Defense’s military construction budget request, fully funds veterans’ care, and secures key defense priorities, including additional funding for Ebbing Air National Guard Base projects and robust investments in the Pacific region.
Image by Manny Becerra
Congressman Womack said, “This bill enhances our defense capabilities nationwide and in Fort Smith by securing $70 million for Ebbing Air National Guard Base Academic Training Center construction. Importantly, it displays our commitment to those who’ve dutifully served our country by investing in the quality of life for our military families and fully funding veterans’ care. I’m pleased it received the stamp of approval from the House. I look forward to working with our Senate counterparts to advance this legislation on the path to becoming law.”
Bill breakdown:
Supports veterans by:
Fully funding veterans’ health care programs.
Fully funding veterans’ benefits and VA programs.
Bolsters national security by:
Providing robust funding for the Indo-Pacific region, fully funding projects in Guam, and increasing resources for INDOPACOM to improve the Department of Defense posture in the region.
Maintaining the prohibitions on the closure of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and the use of military construction funds to build facilities for detainees on U.S. soil.
Focuses the Executive Branch on its core responsibilities by:
Reaffirming the political limits outlined in the Hatch Act, particularly those of lobbying Congress and using official resources for political purposes.
Prohibiting the use of funds to promote or advance critical race theory.
Prohibiting the implementation, administration, or enforcement of the Biden Administration’s executive orders on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Supports American values and principles by:
Prohibiting taxpayer dollars from being used for abortion, using Hyde Amendment language which includes exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother.
Protecting the 2nd Amendment rights of veterans by preventing VA from sending information to the FBI about veterans without a judge’s consent.
Prohibiting VA from processing medical care claims for illegal aliens.
A summary of the bill is available here.
Bill text is available here.