Rep. Cisneros Secures 39th District Priorities in House-Passed Appropriations Bill on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs

June 20, 2019
Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congressman Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39) voted for the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (VA) Appropriations Act, as included in H.R. 3055, the Second FY 2020 Appropriations Minibus.  The bill provides $108.1 billion in discretionary funding to support services for veterans and to increase oversight and accountability within the department, representing an increase of $10.1 billion above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level. 

“As a Navy veteran with the honor of representing over 25,000 veterans, the programs in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill are very important to our communities in the 39th District,” said Rep. Cisneros. “I’m proud to have supported a critical set of programs that ensure our military families have privatized housing, our most vulnerable veterans are given the services they have earned, and expand investment in military construction projects. As a member of both the House Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committees, I am committed to improving our military readiness, supporting military families, and honoring our commitment to veterans.” 

Earlier this year, Congressman Cisneros testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and the VA during the Subcommittee’s Member Day hearing to encourage strong funding levels for several programs that directly benefit California’s 39th Congressional District.  Additionally, the Congressman solicited feedback from constituents on funding priorities in FY 2020 to inform his programmatic requests to the House Appropriations Committee.  Virtually all of the programs Congressman Cisneros personally advocated for received increases in the bill. 

  • $45 million for grants for construction of veterans cemeteries - Congressman Cisneros followed up his testimony with a letter urging the Appropriations Committee to provide increased funding for this account in order to ensure sufficient funding is available to facilitate the construction of a veterans cemetery in Orange County, California.

  • Report Language recognizing the value of the VetSuccess On Campus (VSOC) program - the report accompanying the bill encourages the Veterans Benefits Administration to continue to expand VSOC to additional sites.  

  • $1.9 billion for homeless assistance programs - Congressman Cisneros is also a strong supporter and cosponsor of H.R. 2223, the Helping Homeless Veterans Act of 2019, which would reauthorize and make permanent programs to help keep our veterans off the streets, including transitional housing, employment assistance, and supportive services.

  • $222 million in suicide prevention and outreach activities - Congressman Cisneros also signed a letter organized by Rep. Watson Coleman, Rep. Kim and Rep. Katko requesting $222 million for suicie prevention and outreach programs.

  • $705 million for the VA caregivers program - This important program provides an unprecedented level of benefits to families with veterans seriously injured in the line of duty 

  • $10.5 billion for military construction projects - this represents an increase of $207 million above the FY 2019 funding level.

  • $1.5 billion to support military family housing - this represents an increase of $140.8 million above the President’s budget request.

Issues: 
Armed Services & Defense, Veterans