House appropriators on Wednesday advanced a $77 billion bill funding military construction projects and veterans’ benefits.
The bill is scheduled to hit the House floor next week along with a $35 billion bill funding energy and water development programs.
The military construction bill is $1.2 billion below President Obama’s budget request, but $4.6 billion above the level appropriated for the current 2015 year.
A Republican amendment package was adopted into the bill, while a Democratic-sponsored amendment related to medical marijuana was rejected.
{mosads}The proposal from Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.) would have prevented funds from being used to enforce a restriction on Veterans’ Affairs providers that says they can’t complete forms seeking recommendations or opinions about a veteran’s participation in a state marijuana program.
Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) said he’d rather have an authorizing committee handle such a proposal instead of the appropriations panel. Dent explained that veterans are able to participate in such state programs, but are not allowed to possess marijuana at VA facilities.
Republicans accepted a Democratic amendment to boost VA research.
The bill provides $4.6 billion above the 2015 level and includes funding Congress already approved in advance appropriations last year for veterans.
For military construction projects, the bill provides $7.7 billion, which is $904 million above the 2015 level and $755 million below Obama’s budget request. The funds cover construction and renovation projects on military bases around the world.
Republicans also meet Obama’s request to provide $63.3 billion in advance appropriations for fiscal 2017 funding for veterans’ medical programs.