2023: Jen Kiggans Voted For Controversial Social Issue Amendments That Politicized The Military Construction-VA Appropriations Bill, Usually Considered One Of The Least Controversial Pieces Of Annual Spending
Kiggans Voted For The Military Construction-VA Appropriations, That Was “Chock-Full Of Extremist Policy Riders” And Was Usually The Least Controversial Of The Annual Spending Measures
Kiggans Voted For A Bill That Would Provide Appropriations Funding For Veterans Affairs And Military Construction, But Prohibits Use Of Funds For Abortion And Gender-Affirming Care. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Passage of the bill that would provide $317.4 billion in mandatory and discretionary funding for the VA, including $121 billion for VA medical care programs, $166 billion for veteran disability compensation and other benefits, $151.4 billion for veteran pensions, $17.5 billion for military construction projects and $2 billion for military personnel housing. It would also provide $293 million for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program, intended to counter Russian and Chinese military activities. Among other provisions, it would prohibit the use of funds provided by the bill to close or realign Naval Station Guantanamo Bay and provide $189 million for Arlington National Cemetery, including funding for its southern expansion. The bill would allow the use of funding for the Veterans Affairs Department Medical Services to reimburse veterans and their spouses for assisted reproductive technology treatments or adoption expenses. It would also prohibit the use of the bill's funds to provide abortions, to implement a September 2022 VA rule that allows abortion counseling and establishes exceptions for the prohibition on abortions in the medical benefits package for veterans and civilian beneficiaries, to provide surgical procedures or hormone therapies for gender-affirming care, and to fly or display a flag over a VA facility or national cemetery that is not the U.S. flag, military-related or another government jurisdiction. As amended, the bill would prohibit the use of the bill's funds to interfere with a veteran's participation in a legal state medical cannabis program, to enforce COVID-19 mask mandates, and to implement the COVID-19 vaccination program for VA health care personnel.” The bill passed by a vote of 219-211. [H.R. 4366, Vote #380, 7/27/23; CQ, 7/27/23]
- Roll Call: “Military Construction-VA Bill, Usually Considered The Least Controversial Of The 12 Annual Spending Measures, Passed On A 219-211 Vote.” “The House passed its first fiscal 2024 spending bill Thursday, funding veterans benefits and military construction projects, by a razor-thin margin along party lines that signaled a troubled road ahead for the appropriations process. The $317.4 billion Military Construction-VA bill, usually considered the least controversial of the 12 annual spending measures, passed on a 219-211 vote. Democrats marched in lockstep against the bill, saying it was chock-full of extremist policy riders and would cut military housing money needed by troops and their families.” [Roll Call, 7/27/23]
- Roll Call: “Democrats Marched In Lockstep Against The Bill, Saying It Was Chock-Full Of Extremist Policy Riders And Would Cut Military Housing Money.” “The House passed its first fiscal 2024 spending bill Thursday, funding veterans benefits and military construction projects, by a razor-thin margin along party lines that signaled a troubled road ahead for the appropriations process. The $317.4 billion Military Construction-VA bill, usually considered the least controversial of the 12 annual spending measures, passed on
a 219-211 vote. Democrats marched in lockstep against the bill, saying it was chock-full of extremist policy riders and would cut military housing money needed by troops and their families.” [Roll Call, 7/27/23]
- According To The White House The House Republicans Were Looking To Cut “Climate Change And Clean Energy Programs, Essential Nutrition Services, Law Enforcement, Consumer Safety, Education, And Healthcare” From The Military Construction-VA Appropriations Bill. “The White House on Monday threatened to veto a proposed spending bill for military construction and veterans’ affairs, arguing that House Republicans are pursuing a partisan spending proposal that deviates from an agreement struck during debt ceiling talks. ‘House Republicans had an opportunity to engage in a productive, bipartisan appropriations process, but instead, with just over two months before the end of the fiscal year, are wasting time with partisan bills that cut domestic spending to levels well below the (Fiscal Responsibility Act) agreement and endanger critical services for the American people,’ the White House said in a statement of administration policy. ‘These levels would result in deep cuts to climate change and clean energy programs, essential nutrition services, law enforcement, consumer safety, education, and healthcare,’ the statement added.” [The Hill, 7/24/23]
- House Republicans Added More Controversial Social Issues Into The Military Construction-VA Appropriations Bill After President Biden’s Threat Of A Veto. “House Republicans responded to President Joe Biden’s veto threat on their Veterans Affairs appropriations bill by adding even more controversial social issues into the measure, further complicating negotiations on how to fund veterans programs into next year. […] The cost of the spending plan matches what White House officials requested earlier this year and has not been a sticking point in negotiations. Rather, Democrats objected to amendments included in the bill which would bar VA officials from providing any abortion services, severely limit health care options for transgender veterans, and bar department facilities from displaying the LGBT pride flag at any time.” [Military Times, 7/27/23]
Kiggans Voted For Many Controversial Social Issue Amendments In The Military Construction-VA Appropriations Bill
Kiggans Voted For An Amendment To Ban Funds From The Bill From Being Used For COVID Mask Mandates. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Rosendale, R-Mont., amendment no. 37 that would bar the use of funds provided by the bill to enforce any COVID-19 mask mandates.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 223-211. [H.R. 4366, Vote #374, 7/26/23; CQ, 7/26/23]
Kiggans Voted For An Amendment To Ban Funds From The Bill From Being Used For COVID Vaccination Programs For VA Health Care Employees. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Roy, R-Texas, amendment no. 38 that would bar the use of funds provided by the bill to carry out the COVID-19 vaccination program for Veterans Health Administration health care personnel.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 224-210. [H.R. 4366, Vote #375, 7/26/23; CQ, 7/26/23]
Kiggans Voted For Amendment To Ban Funds From The Bill From Being Used To Implement Biden Executive Orders Related To Climate Change. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Roy, R-Texas, amendment no. 40 that would bar the use of funds provided by the bill to implement seven Biden administration executive orders relating to climate change.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 220-214. [H.R. 4366, Vote #377, 7/26/23; CQ, 7/26/23]
Kiggans Voted For An Amendment To Ban Funds From The Bill From Being Used To Promote Clean Energy Industries And Jobs. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Zinke, R-Mont., amendment no. 41 that would bar the use of funds provided by the bill to implement the December 2021 Biden administration executive order regarding the promotion of clean energy industries and jobs.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 222-212. [H.R. 4366, Vote #378, 7/26/23; CQ, 7/26/23]
Kiggans Voted Against A Motion To Recommit A Bill Addressing Appropriations For Military Construction, Veterans Affairs And Related Agencies, But Prohibits Use Of Funds For Abortion And Gender-Affirming Care. In July 2023 Kiggans voted against: “Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., motion to recommit the bill to the House Appropriations Committee.” The motion was rejected by a vote of 206-219. [H.R. 4366, Vote #379, 7/27/23; CQ, 7/27/23]