House of Representatives Passes Republican National Security and Veteran Affairs Appropriations Bill with Guam Military Construction Projects
The House of Representatives passed a Republican national security and veteran affairs appropriations bill on Wednesday, which included significant funding for military construction projects on Guam and increased focus on veteran care in the territories and Freely Associated States. Del. James Moylan sponsored and cosponsored several amendments in the bill, totaling $677.6 million for military construction projects on Guam.
The bill, known as H.R. 8580, passed by a narrow 209-197 vote in the House. However, the future of the bill in the Senate is uncertain due to controversial riders on abortion and other social issues included in the legislation.
Democrats criticized the bill for cutting military construction funding below last year’s levels, restricting women’s access to abortion, and including partisan changes to existing laws. Despite these criticisms, the bill provides $17.957 billion for Department of Defense military construction and family housing, with a focus on investments in the Indo-Pacific region.
Moylan’s amendments also included funding for the Veterans Crisis Line and new military housing construction to reduce the demand for local housing inventory by the Department of Defense. Additionally, funding was allocated to address the inadequate care for veterans living in territories and Freely Associated States, as highlighted in a recent General Accountability Office report.
Congress is expected to address 11 additional appropriation measures, along with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), in the coming weeks. The NDAA, which includes some of Moylan’s amendments, is scheduled for a vote next week.
Moylan emphasized the importance of the military construction projects in creating jobs, supporting small businesses, and enhancing the local tax base. The projects authorized in the NDAA, totaling nearly $2 billion, are expected to have a positive impact on the community.
