In addition to the military construction money included in the House version of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill that passed Tuesday, the measure includes several provisions for veterans, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said.

Gabbard, a veteran herself, said the measure includes several provisions she requested. Among them: funding for additional claims processors and provisions for increased oversight of VA offices that have significant backlog of disability claims. As Civil Beat reported, Hawaii veterans are waiting even longer than the oft-criticized national average for benefits.

The measure also includes  $4.8 billion to improve VA medical facilities, $250 million to improve healthcare for veterans in rural areas, and $20 million for military suicide prevention and outreach. It also also requires that the VA report the number and status of awarded, pending, and denied Filipino war veteran claims by December 1, 2013. 

“Even as budgets tighten around the country, it remains crucial to ensure our military’s readiness and keep the promises we have made to our selfless veterans,” Gabbard said in a release.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

— Kery Murakami