Senate Passes Milcon-VA Spending Bill

The full Senate on Tuesday passed by unanimous vote the Fiscal 2010 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, providing a total of about $134 billion, an increase of $439 million over the Administration request. The bill includes $76.7 billion—$23.2 for Milcon—in discretionary funding. It also includes $1.4 billion to fund operations in Afghanistan. The bill provides $2 billion for family housing, which is $1.5 billion less than the Administration requested since operating expenses have been reduced as the privatization effort winds down. Senators added $264.2 million above the Administration request to fund Milcon for Guard and Reserve facilities. The House and Senate now must meet in conference before the bill can go to President Obama for signature. (Senate Appropriations Committee release)