Last week, the House passed the FY 2016 Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2029). The vote was essentially along party lines. This bill and the FY 2016 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which the House also passed, are the first two appropriations bills to advance in Congress this year. Following the vote, the White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) which stated the President’s intention to veto the MILCON/VA bill (if the House version survives the House-Senate Conference and is sent up to the President for signature) because it holds off cuts to defense programs while not also holding off cuts to domestic programs. The Administration’s position has been consistent: national defense spending increases should hold no higher priority than increases for domestic programs.
