House passage of VA appropriations garners strong bipartisan support

Two other funding measures also announced Source: Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata’s D.C. staff WASHINGTON — House passage of the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, H.R. 8469 had unusually strong bipartisan support. It was approved in late April by the full Appropriations Committee with a unanimous vote of 58-0, then passed Friday by the full House 400-15. The legislation is one of 12 yearly major appropriations bills, and the first to achieve House passage for 2027. It provides a total discretionary allocation of $157 billion, which is nearly $4 billion (3%) above the Fiscal Year 2026 enacted level. That discretionary amount is in addition to $323.9 billion for mandatory programs, for a combined $469.49 billion in overall funding for Fiscal Year 2027. For Veterans, the bill fully funds VA health care programs, veterans’ benefits, support for military families, and ongoing levels for research, mental health and suicide prevention efforts. It also fully funds the Community Care account, enabling veterans to seek specialty care. Notably, the bill invests over $2 billion in capital improvements for VA medical facilities and national cemeteries. It provides $900 million for medical and prosthetic research. In military construction, the bill reflects priorities of the Congress including investments in infrastructure to support both readiness and military families. It provides over $19 billion for military construction, invests in barracks improvements and provides $2 billion for military housing. Construction funding is also directed at continued investment in the Indo-Pacific region to promote security and stability. As Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) stated, “From the Indo-Pacific to commands here at home, strength and preparedness are not optional.” Congresswoman Amata, who serves as Vice Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said, “As a nation, we have a lifelong commitment to our Veterans. The unanimous bipartisan support for this bill by the entire large Appropriations Committee is a positive development and speaks well of this bill. Thank you to all who served, and we will continue oversight and funding so that the VA improves in working for you and recognizing the needs of our Veterans.” FEMA REIMBURSEMENT Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming a second notice of funding in the past few days from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through its Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), this time $324,917, once again reimbursing American Samoa for costs during COVID response. Thank you to the Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management (ODAPM), which is the primary department in working with FEMA year-round, along with the Department of Health (ASDOH) and LBJ Tropical Medical Center, which provided the services that are being reimbursed. “Although my first priority with grant notices is to inform our people of funding, it’s always an added pleasure in those times when I know specifically who to thank for local work. There are efforts made in our Territory that are necessary to qualify for federal requirements for a grant, or to provide the services to our people when implementing the funding, and it very often involves someone behind the scenes, not listed on the official notification,” said Congresswoman Amata. “For instance, in these FEMA reimbursements, this would include work on this grant by ASG personnel, including ODAPM, as well as the services that were provided throughout COVID by LBJ and our health professionals. Thank you to everyone who does their part in keeping needed funds flowing to our islands.” This grant reimburses Emergency Measures to Support Healthcare Facilities as a result of COVID-19 Pandemic. The funding is authorized by Congress under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. HHS GRANT FOR LBJ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a federal funding notification for American Samoa Medical Center Authority. This discretionary grant of $306,604 for programs under the American Samoa Department of Health at LBJ Tropical Medical Center is for family planning services, covering one year of the five-year project. The funding is through the federal Office of Family Planning, within the HHS Office of Public Health and Science. HHS is led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Thank you especially to Bethel Mussau-Howard regarding this grant and effort, and all involved. We’re grateful always to the health professionals at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center and our Health Department for medical care for our people,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Thank you to HHS for supporting our hospital programs, and congratulations to ASG for their roles ensuring federal funds are obtained.” Section: Local News
2026-05-18 17:45:27