Congressman John Garamendi Votes to Pass $194 billion Funding Bill for Veterans
WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, Davis, Yuba City), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted to pass legislation that included over $194 billion in funding for the Veterans Administration for Fiscal Year 2019 – an increase of nearly $9 billion from last year. It includes critical funding for mental health, homelessness prevention, caregiver support, rural veterans' health initiatives, and opioid treatment and prevention programs.
"One of my most sacred obligations in Congress is fulfilling our nation's promise to care for the veterans who have sacrificed so much to keep our nation safe. The Third District is home to over 50,000 veterans, and they deserve a Department that is properly funded to provide the medical treatment and supportive programs our veterans and their caregivers need," said Garamendi. "The legislation we passed today will greatly help meet this promise."
The bill includes the following provisions:
- $8.6 billion for mental health programs, including $196.1 million in suicide prevention funding
- $7.4 billion for homeless veterans' treatment, services, housing, and job training
- $496 million to support caregivers of post-9/11 veterans
- $270 million for rural health initiatives
- $386.5 million for opioid treatment and prevention programs
- $1.2 billion for a new electronic health record system
The funding was passed as part of H.R. 5895.