Lawmakers rush to pass VA funding

Lawmakers are optimistic they’ll cross a fast repair to the Division of Veterans Affairs funding shortfall earlier than a looming Friday funds deadline. However a decision isn’t anticipated till just some hours earlier than that cutoff.

VA leaders have stated due to elevated advantages payouts and medical care enrollments this 12 months, their accounts are about $2.9 billion in need of what’s wanted to maintain regular operations persevering with. If cash shouldn’t be supplied by Sept. 20, they warned, some advantages checks due subsequent month could also be delayed by days or perhaps weeks.

Home members are anticipated to vote on laws offering the cash — and calling for a more in-depth take a look at the explanations behind the funding situation — early this week. Senate leaders have stated they’ll transfer on the measure as quickly as attainable afterwards.

However particular person senators may disrupt that timeline with objections to the invoice, presumably pushing last passage of the stopgap funds to the weekend or subsequent week. VA officers have stated they’ll work intently with lawmakers to see how they’ll stop any potential advantages disruptions.

Right here’s what else is going on on Capitol Hill this week:

Monday, Sept. 16

Home Armed Companies — 12 p.m. — College of California Santa Cruz
Business Views
Business executives will testify about acquisition pathways and innovation efforts throughout a discipline listening to.

Tuesday, Sept. 17

Senate Armed Companies — 9:30 a.m. — 216 Hart
Nominations
The committee will take into account the nominations of Air Power Lt. Gen. Randall Reed to be head of U.S. Transportation Command and Lt. Gen. Xavier Brunson to be head of U.S. Forces Korea.

Wednesday, Sept. 18

Home International Affairs — 10 a.m. — 2172 Rayburn
Indo-Pacific Competitors
State Division officers will testify on U.S. technique within the Indo-Pacific area.

Senate Homeland Safety — 10 a.m. — 342 Dirksen
Pending Enterprise
The committee will take into account a collection of pending payments and nominations.

Home Armed Companies — 10 a.m. — 2118 Rayburn
Nationwide Protection Technique Fee
Members of the Nationwide Protection Technique Fee will testify on their report back to Congress.

Home Veterans’ Affairs — 10:15 a.m. — 360 Cannon
Incapacity Exams
VA officers and veterans advocates will testify on challenges with contracted incapacity compensation examinations.

Home Veterans’ Affairs — 2:30 p.m. — 360 Cannon
VA Disaster Line
Division officers will testify on operations on the VA Disaster Line.

Senate Veterans’ Affairs — 3 p.m. — 418 Russell
VA Finances Challenges
VA officers will testify on the funds shortfall dealing with the division earlier than the tip of fiscal 2024.

Thursday, Sept. 19

Home Veterans’ Affairs — 9 a.m. — 360 Cannon
VA Know-how Challenges
VA officers will testify on points with know-how modernization initiatives.

Home International Affairs — 10 a.m. — 2172 Rayburn
State Division Grants
State Division officers will testify on grant award insurance policies.

Home International Affairs — 10 a.m. — 2200 Rayburn
Iran
Exterior specialists will testify on the risk posed to the USA and Israel by Iran.

Senate Commerce — 10 a.m. — 253 Russell
Coast Guard
Service officers will testify on their drug interdiction packages at sea.

Home Armed Companies — 1 p.m. — 2212 Rayburn
Military Insurance policies
Military officers will testify on extremism coaching initiatives within the service.

Home International Affairs — 2 p.m. — 2172 Rayburn
Blinken Contempt of Congress
The committee will assessment a decision to search out Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt.

Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White Home for Army Instances. He has coated Washington, D.C. since 2004, specializing in army personnel and veterans insurance policies. His work has earned quite a few honors, together with a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 Nationwide Headliner Award, the IAVA Management in Journalism award and the VFW Information Media award.

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