U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2013 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill this week. This legislation that would fund health and benefit programs for veterans and provide our nation’s military with necessary supplies and infrastructure.

“This bill serves two worthy purposes.” Luetkemeyer said.  “It keeps our solemn commitment to America’s veterans and also provides the military with important tools and infrastructure to ensure the strength of our armed forces.”  

The legislation would fund the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for Fiscal Year 2013, including the Veterans Health Administration and the Veterans Benefits Administration, which handles veterans’ compensation, pensions, burial benefits and other veterans’ benefits, in addition to education and training for veterans and service members. This bill funds VA medical services at $41.4 billion and would provide for approximately 6.3 million patients to be treated in 2013 and provides funding for disability compensation programs, post 9-11 GI bill education benefits and vocational rehabilitation and employment training.

The bill also provides funding for military construction, including funding to ensure quality housing is available for over 1,231,044 military families.