WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today voted in favor of a bill to fund veterans’ services, military housing, and the construction of hospital and health facilities. The Senate passed the funding bill, H.R. 2029, by a vote of 93-0.

“We have a responsibility to take care of our veterans and active military upon their return from service,” Wicker said. “This bipartisan bill includes necessary reforms to our VA system, as well as funding to ensure readiness and improved quality of life for our military families. Our armed forces are composed entirely of volunteers. They deserve our full commitment.”

The legislation includes funding for veterans’ health care, benefit claims processing, medical research, and technology upgrades. In light of recent scandals plaguing the Department of Veterans Affairs, the bill includes protections for whistleblowers and construction oversight measures. The measure was passed by the Appropriations Committee in May by a vote of 21-9.

During the Obama administration, the Democrat-controlled Senate only considered the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill individually on two occasions, even though it should be passed annually. The most recent vote was four years ago. In the first year of the Republican majority, the Senate is correcting this neglect.