Senate is moving on Military Construction-VA measure

Senate Democratic leaders are looking to wrap up work on the fiscal 2010 $133.9 billion Military Construction-VA Appropriations bill on Tuesday, ahead of the Veterans Day holiday.

"I look forward to moving ahead" on the bill, said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "I hope we can [pass the bill] tomorrow."

Around 15 amendments have been filed, including a proposal from Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, to provide $68.5 million to construct an Aegis Ashore Test Facility at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., filed an amendment to provide $37.5 million to construct an Unmanned Aerial System Field Training Complex in New Mexico.

Military Construction-VA Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Johnson, D-S.D., said on Friday he plans to offer an amendment to the bill to add $50 million to VA funding to renovate empty buildings and VA medical campuses to provide housing and services to homeless vets.

Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., said he intends to offer an amendment to add $6 million to the VA's Grant and Per Diem program, which provides capital and operational resources to assist homeless veterans. The amendment would boost funding in the program to $150 million.

Johnson said he intends to accept Udall's amendment.

The total funding in the measure is $7.1 billion over the $126.8 billion provided in fiscal 2009. The measure includes $76.7 billion in discretionary spending, which is $439 million more than requested by President Obama.

The bill appropriates $109 billion for the Veterans Affairs Department, including $53.2 billion in discretionary funding, $150 million above Obama's request. Total medical care funding for VA is $44.7 billion, $4.2 billion over fiscal 2009.

The legislation also approves $23.2 billion for military construction projects, $286 million more than Obama's request.