Rep. Vargas Secures Funding in House Passed Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Bill
WASHINGTON, DC (May 1, 2014) – Earlier this year, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) led the charge in securing funding for three main veterans projects, all of which were included in yesterday’s House passed Fiscal Year 2015 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA) Appropriations bill. Rep. Vargas released the following statement after the bill passed on the House Floor.
“I am thrilled that the funding requests I made for crucial veterans projects were included in the MilCon-VA bill that was passed on the House Floor. It is imperative that we properly fund programs to ensure that our veterans have access to the resources necessary to live full and productive lives. Allocating funds for medical and prosthetic research, suicide prevention and outreach, and healthcare demonstrates that, as a nation, we are aware of our veterans’ needs and are making them a top priority.
“Our great nation is built on the sacrifices of our service members and it is right that we support them, just as they have supported and protected us.”
Specifically, the funding secured by Rep. Vargas ensured that the Veterans Affairs’ medical and prosthetic research and development programs received $589 million, an additional $20 million was provided for suicide prevention and outreach in the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, and $15 million was included for the Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund.
Vargas represents California’s 51st Congressional District which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County and California’s entire US/Mexico border. Vargas is currently serving his first term in Congress. He represented the 40th California State Senate District from 2010-2012, the 79th California State Assembly District from 2000 – 2006 and served on the San Diego City Council from 1993 – 2000.