•    "Quality of life for our servicemembers and their families and caring for our veterans is paramount, yet distressingly, Republican cuts to military construction and resiliency not only neglects those basic needs it weakens America’s long-term national security…Worse, while these MilCon-VA cuts are not as steep as other bills, they fall within a framework that abandons the Fiscal Responsibility Act agreement, which guided our funding decisions less than a year ago. Those deeper, more drastic cuts will make life harder for countless veterans and servicemembers who count on the same services and programs that all Americans need to stay afloat or get ahead. Finally, this bill frustratingly – once again – is riddled with culture war, poisonous riders that erode women’s reproductive rights and endorse a foul brand of discrimination that is well beneath us by now. How my Republican colleagues would ever allow such partisan payoffs to a fringe minority undermine our shared goal of providing the best healthcare and benefits to our veterans, is extremely distressing. For all these reasons, I sadly, cannot support this bill." Source: Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democrat, Florida, District 25), Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee

•    "The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 8580, making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year (FY) ending September 30, 2025 and for other purposes. Earlier this year, the Administration and members of both parties in the Congress came together to pass bipartisan appropriations bills to fund programs that keep Americans safe and healthy, invest in education and affordable housing, and build on the economic progress of the past three and a half years. These appropriations bills are consistent with the agreement the President and House Republican leadership reached last year to avoid a first-ever default and protect the President’s investment agenda and critical programs from deep cuts, using necessary adjustments to statutory caps. Rather than respecting their agreement and taking the opportunity to engage in a productive, bipartisan appropriations process to build on last year’s bills, House Republicans are again wasting time with partisan bills that would result in deep cuts to law enforcement, education, housing, health care, consumer safety, energy programs that lower utility bills and combat climate change, and essential nutrition services." Source: Executive Office of the President Office of Management and Budget