[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 84 (Monday, June 13, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1074]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 2, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2055) making 
     appropriations for military construction, the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2012, and for other purposes:

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Culberson and Ranking 
Member Bishop for bringing the FY 2012 Military Construction and 
Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill to the floor today. This bill 
provides funding that is critical to the strength and the well-being of 
our military, and supports the education and training of our veterans, 
construction of Department of Defense hospitals, schools and family 
housing.
  The bill provides a total of $143.9 billion in FY 2012, of which 
$69.5 billion is mandatory funding for pensions and other benefits 
administered by the Veterans Benefit Administration. This funding will 
support service-connected compensation programs that help an estimated 
4 million veterans, survivors and dependents and makes pension payments 
to 507,000 veterans and survivors.
  The bill also provides $60.2 billion in discretionary funding for the 
Department of Veterans Affairs and $14 billion for military 
construction and family housing. This includes funds for inpatient care 
and treatment of beneficiaries in 152 hospitals, 101 domiciliary 
residential rehabilitation treatment programs, 133 nursing homes, 300 
Vet Centers, 50 mobile Vet Centers and 807 outpatient clinics, which 
include independent, satellite, community-based and rural outreach 
clinics.
  Our nation's servicemembers and veterans and their families deserve 
the best quality care and support available. This measure helps to fund 
the programs and benefits they have earned for their service and 
sacrifice.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of the bill.

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