WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies – today applauded the inclusion of his priorities to help veterans in Kansas and nationwide in the FY2018 omnibus appropriations bill.

“Appropriations for military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs in the FY18 omnibus provides significant investments in the livelihood and well-being of our U.S. military members, their families and our nation’s veterans – this bill prioritizes funding at the VA to make certain our veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve,” said Chairman Moran. “I am pleased we were able to come to a compromise on behalf of our servicemembers, veterans and their families, and I hope to see this quickly passed and signed into law.”

The FY2018 Omnibus Appropriations Bill:

• Includes funding not only for the Service Chiefs Unfunded Priorities lists, but also for increasing accountability for the Army Corps of Engineers by requiring the Corps to report on the cost it incurs from legal settlements related to delays on several projects;
• Prioritizes funding at the VA for Opioid Treatment and Prevention as well as Mental Health Programs. This includes:
  • $10 million to expand programs under the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act;
  • An additional $10 million above the president’s request for the Veterans Crisis Line; and
  • Language and funding for hiring critical healthcare positions, such as Chiropractors and Marriage and Family Therapists, to increase access to care for our veterans.
  • Allocates $685 million to fund state veterans’ homes, which is estimated to fund nearly all of the backlogged projects on VA’s State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program Priority List.

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