This week, as we do every November 11, America paused to remember the brave men and women who have put their lives on the line to defend liberty and opportunity for their neighbors at home and friends of freedom around the world.The following day, the House of Representatives approved the Senate-passed agreement which will reopen the federal government through the end of January. The bill, which I supported, also completes our work funding several agencies for the full fiscal year, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
While I am pleased Congress met its commitment to our veterans the same week we commemorated their sacrifice, I am also heartened to know the VA is much less affected by government shutdowns because of legislation I previously supported. Under the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, the VA is funded through a process known as advance appropriations. This bill requires VA to report more budgetary data so Congress can utilize the information to project and authorize spending one year ahead of schedule.
While advance appropriations is not appropriate for every agency because it lengthens the gap between spending and oversight, utilizing this mechanism for the VA ensures our veterans can receive the care and benefits they deserve even when other agencies are subject to a shutdown.
