Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, praised the House passage of the H.R. 5854, the Fiscal Year 2013 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill.

H.R. 5854 funds the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Health Administration supporting a variety of veterans’ programs, including medical care and treatment, compensation, pensions, and training and education. Funding provided by this bill also meets critical needs such as suicide-prevention services, Arlington National Cemetery expansion, and homeless veterans outreach.

“Our veterans have made tremendous sacrifices to protect our freedoms and we must work to ensure that they receive the benefits they were promised,” said Simpson. “It is our responsibility to provide them with the care and services they earned and justly deserve.” 

The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill also provides essential funding for military construction and military medical facilities such as the new hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, the destination for our wounded troops evacuated from Afghanistan. 

H.R. 5854 overwhelmingly passed the House late last night by a vote of 407-12.  It now awaits consideration in the Senate.