Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) today voted to fully fund veterans’ programs and strengthen national security through critical military construction projects as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

            “The courageous men and women who have served our country—and have made tremendous sacrifices to ensure our security—deserve the best care a grateful nation can provide,” said Smith, who has authored more than a dozen laws to assist veterans. Some of the laws authored by Smith include comprehensive legislation to combat homelessness among veterans and to improve educational, health care and other benefits and services for them and their surviving family members.

            The military funding bill—which passed the House by a vote of 219-211—includes over $138 billion for veterans’ medical care including toxic exposure-related needs while also boosting funding for military construction projects to help ensure a robust national defense against America’s adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party. Smith said the House will also vote on funding for weapon systems and salaries for service members in a separate defense appropriations bill this fall.

            “This critical legislation will help ensure our veterans have access to the lifesaving care they need to thrive in the great country they fought to protect,” said Smith, a fierce advocate for veterans who has twice served as Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

            The legislation also includes guardrails that prohibit funds from being used to promote or advance critical race theory in addition to defunding the Biden Administration’s illegal executive action that expands taxpayer funding of abortions through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

            “The needs of those who have put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms must come first,” said Smith. “We cannot abandon our American heroes in their time of need.”

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