House Passes $3 Billion Funding Bill to Address Veterans Affairs Budget Shortfall

The House passed a bill on Sept. 17 to give additional funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs as the agency faces a budget shortfall. The bill, which was introduced by Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.) and would give the VA almost $2.9 billion, passed by voice vote and therefore no roll call was taken. The funding would go toward veterans’ benefits, compensation, and pensions. The agency told Congress in July that it was $3 billion short through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, citing an increase in veterans benefits. The agency is also $12 billion short the following year. The bill would allocate almost $2.29 billion for pensions and compensation and almost $597 million for benefits to help veterans readjust to life outside the military....