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CARING FOR OUR VETS: President Donald J. Trump is signing legislation that provides historic funding to care for our Nation’s veterans.

  • President Trump is signing appropriations legislation that will provide $86.5 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the largest dollar amount in history for the VA.
  • The legislation provides $73.1 billion for medical care for 7 million patients, including:
    • $8.6 billion for mental health services
    • $400 million for opioid abuse prevention
    • $206 million for suicide prevention outreach
    • $270 million for rural veterans’ health initiatives
  • The legislation provides an additional $1.75 billion above the amount already enacted for FY 2019 to improve ongoing healthcare services and to fund certain VA MISSION Act programs.
  • The legislation includes $1.1 billion to modernize the VA’s electronic health record system, a desperately needed improvement to provide seamless care to those transitioning from service.
  • Oversight and accountability will be strengthened to ensure VA dollars are being used to the best benefit of our veterans.
  • The legislation accelerates compensation claims processing for more than 450,000 veterans.

BUILDING OUR DEFENSES: The legislation provides billions of dollars in critical funding to further President Trump’s national security priorities and rebuild military infrastructure.

  • The legislation provides $15.14 billion to support a strong nuclear national security strategy, including:
    • $11.1 billion for nuclear weapons activities to maintain a strong deterrence posture
    • $1.70 billion to support the Navy’s nuclear powered fleet
    • $1.93 billion to keep nuclear materials from getting in the hands of bad actors
  • Funding is provided to harden our nation’s energy grid against cyber and other attacks, including $120 million for research and development to strengthen our electric grid.
  • The legislation will rebuild infrastructure for service members and their families by providing $10.3 billion for 174 military construction projects across the country and overseas.
    • Family housing is fully funded with $1.6 billion and $100 million will go to enhancing anti-terrorism, force protection, and safety efforts on military installations

INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY: The legislation invests in American infrastructure and energy development.   

  • The legislation invests in our Nation’s water resources, providing $7 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers to maintain and improve our Nation’s water infrastructure, including:
    • $3.2 billion for navigation projects and studies to maintain and improve our coastal ports and inland waterways
    • $2 billion for flood and storm damage reduction projects and activities
  • The legislation advances an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy by directing $13.4 billion to the Department of Energy’s energy programs, including:
    • $740 million for research and development to advance fossil energy technologies
    • $1.2 billion for nuclear energy research and development activities