Following is a statement from U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) who voted this week in support of the Fiscal Year 2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill:
 
 “I proudly voted in support of this legislation to ensure our veterans have the services and care they have earned and to ensure that we maintain a sound military infrastructure at a time when our nation faces a series of national security challenges both at home and abroad. This bill provides 6.5 million patients with medical treatment, including funding for traumatic brain injury; suicide prevention; mental health care; and rural health initiatives. This critical legislation also provides the military with the tools and infrastructure to ensure the strength of our armed forces including funding for military families in the form of construction of family housing, medical facilities, guard and reserve facilities, and educational facilities. At the same time, in an effort to keep spending under control, this legislation will rescind unused funding from previous years and reduce excess funds wherever possible. The bill also increases oversight of taxpayer dollars at the Department of Veterans Affairs and, very importantly, attempts to deal with the backlog of veterans’ disability claims by funding a coordinated Department of Defense /Department of Veterans Affairs electronic health record system and funding for initiatives to help deal with benefit claims in a much more timely manner.”