April 2015

This week the House Appropriations Committee completed work on the FY16 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which funds the VA research program. The original bill proposed by Chairman Charlie Dent (R-PA) included $606 million for VA research, an increase of $7 million over current spending, but well below the $622 proposed in the President's budget proposal.

During full committee markup of the bill, Rep. David Price (D-NC) offered an amendment to increase the VA research account to the $622 million. Rep. Price's amendment received bipartisan support on the committee and was accepted without objections. The final research program funding was reduced to $618 million due to an across the board cut placed on all programs in the VA.

The bill will now move to the full House of Representatives for consideration. The Senate has yet to begin consideration of the FY16 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill.

The ATS and its partner organizations in the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research coalition played a key role in supporting Rep. Price's amendment and ensuring its bipartisan support. The ATS will now turn its attention to ensuring robust VA research funding in the Senate bill.