2023: Schweikert Voted For An Amendment That Would Prohibit The VA Frin Using Funds To Submit A Beneficiary's Name To The National Instant Criminal Background Check System Best On The VA's Appointment Of A Fiduciary. In July 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for an amendment to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, which would "prohibit the Veterans Affairs Department from using funds to submit a beneficiary's name to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System based on the department's appointment of a fiduciary." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 228 to 206. [House Vote 373, 7/26/23; Congressional Quarterly, 7/26/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4366; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 297]
2023: Schweikert Voted To Update Provisions Related To Veteran Benefit Eligibility And Access To Disability Exams. In September 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the "motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, that would make numerous changes to improve the provision of benefits to veterans by the Veterans Affairs Department. Among changes to the determination of disability benefits eligibility, the bill would require online questionnaires to be updated, require the VA to issue a report on improving travel cost reimbursements for overseas veterans who must attend a disability exam, and direct the VA to improve communication on the scheduling of a disability exam between contract examiners, veterans and the veterans' representatives. The bill would also increase from seven to nine the number of judges on the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and require the VA to establish a program to reimburse the costs of state bar exam preparation and annual bar dues for recent law graduates who commit to a three-year service agreement with the VA." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 423 to 0, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 401, 9/20/23; Congressional Quarterly, 9/20/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1530]
2023: Schweikert Voted For An Amendment That Would Prohibit The Use Of VA And Military Construction Funding To Implement A Biden Administration Executive Order That Promoted Clean Energy Industries And Jobs. In July 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for an amendment to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, which would "bar the use of funds provided by the bill to implement the December 2021 Biden administration executive order regarding the promotion of clean energy industries and jobs." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 222 to 212. [House Vote 378, 7/26/23; Congressional Quarterly, 7/26/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4366; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 303]
2023: Schweikert Voted For An Amendment That Would Prohibit The Use Of VA And Military Construction Funding To Implement 7 Biden Administration Executive Orders Regarding Climate Change. In July 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for an amendment to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, which would "bar the use of funds provided by the bill to implement seven Biden administration executive orders relating to climate change." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 220 to 214. [House Vote 377, 7/26/23; Congressional Quarterly, 7/26/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4366; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 302]
2023: Schweikert Voted For An Amendment That Would Prohibit The Use Of VA And Military Construction Funding To Enforce COVID-19 Mask Mandates. In July 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for an amendment to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, which would "bar the use of funds provided by the bill to enforce any COVID-19 mask mandates." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 223 to 211. [House Vote 374, 7/26/23; Congressional Quarterly, 7/26/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4366; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 299]
2023: Schweikert Voted To Prohibit The Use Of VA Funding To Enforce COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates For VA Health Care Personnel. In July 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, which would "prohibit the use of the bill's funds to interfere with a veteran's participation in a legal state medical cannabis program, to enforce COVID-19 mask mandates, and to implement the COVID-19 vaccination program for VA health care personnel." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 219 to 211, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 380, 7/27/23; Congressional Quarterly, 7/27/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4366]
2023: Schweikert Voted For An Amendment That Would Prohibit The Use Of VA And Military Construction Funding To Require COVID-19 Vaccinations For Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel. In July 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for an amendment to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, which would "bar the use of funds provided by the bill to carry out the COVID-19 vaccination program for Veterans Health Administration health care personnel." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 224 to 210. [House Vote 375, 7/26/23; Congressional Quarterly, 7/26/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4366; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 300]
2023: Schweikert Voted For A Bill That Would Expand Oversight Of Educational Institutions Receiving Benefits From TheVeterans Affairs Department. In September 2023, Schweikert voted for a bill that "would require educational institutions, in order to be approved for Veterans Affairs Department educational benefits, to agree to turn over any requested documentation as part of a government action within 30 days. It would also require educational institutions that receive GI Bill education benefits to preemptively report any non-compliance within 30 days to the VA and make any institution that fails to report certain unfavorable events ineligible to receive VA payments for GI Bill education benefits." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 410 to 0, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 392, 9/18/23; Congressional Quarterly, 9/18/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3981]
2017: Schweikert Voted For Expanding The VA's Ability To Terminate Employees. In March 2017, Schweikert voted for legislation that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, "expand[ed] the Veterans Affairs Department's ability to fire, demote and suspend employees for misconduct or poor performance. The measure would [have] authorize[d] the VA to recoup any bonus paid to a VA employee if the VA deems it appropriate, and it would [have] require[d] that the employee be given advance notice and the right to appeal the decision. As amended, the measure would [have] require[d] that annual performance reviews for supervisors at the VA include evaluations on the supervisor's ability to address poor performance among their employees and would [have] require[d] the VA to provide supervisors with periodic training related to whistleblower rights and effective management techniques." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 237 to 178. The Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 168, 3/16/17; Congressional Quarterly, 3/16/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1259]
2016: Schweikert Voted To Expand The VA's Ability To Terminate Employees. In September 2016, Schweikert voted for legislation that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly "expand[ed] the Veterans Affairs Department's (VA's) ability to fire employees for misconduct, would provide three new options for appealing VA benefits decisions, and would modify the disciplinary process for Senior Executive Service employees at the VA. The measure would [have] authorize[d] the VA to recoup any bonus paid to a VA employee if the VA deems it appropriate, and would require the employee to be given advance notice and the right to appeal the decision. The measure would also [have] set the punishment for whistleblower retaliation at the VA as a minimum of a 14-day suspension." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 310 to 116, but the Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 519, 9/14/16; Congressional Quarterly, 9/14/16; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5620]
Some Democrats Were Concerned About The Time Limits A Fired Employee Could Appeal, Which Would Reduce Their Ability To Defend Themselves. According to The Hill, "Democrats, meanwhile, expressed concern that the provisions limiting the time period for VA employees to receive notice and appeal decisions about firing or recouping bonuses would diminish their ability to defend themselves." [The Hill, 9/14/16]
President Obama, While Not Threatening An Explicit Veto, Worried That The Bill Would Reduce The VA's Ability To Attract The Best Talent. According to The Hill, "The Obama administration stopped short of a veto threat, but warned that the proposals to cut pay and limit bonuses would hurt the agency's ability to attract the most competent workers. 'These provisions will make it more difficult for VA to attract the top talent that is needed to serve veterans, limit the rights of VA employees and senior executives, and set back the work done by VA to rebuild veterans' trust,' the White House said in a Statement of Administration Policy." [The Hill, 9/14/16]
2024: Schweikert Voted To Prohibit The Department Of Veterans' Affairs From Reporting The Appointment Of A Fiduciary To The National Background Check System. In June 2024, Schweikert voted for , according to Congressional Quarterly, "amendment no. 10 that would prohibit the Department of Veterans Affairs to use funds made available by the bill to report a determination to the Justice Department's National Instant Criminal Background Check System based on the VA's appointment of a fiduciary." The vote was on the amendment. The underlying legislation was the FY 2025 Military Construction-VA Appropriations. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 211 to 193. [House Vote 238, 6/4/24; Congressional Quarterly, 6/4/24; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.933; Congressional Actions, H.R. 8580]
2023: Schweikert Voted To Prohibit The Use Of VA Funding To Display A Flag Over A VA Facility Or National Cemetery Flag Other Than The U.S. Flag, Military Flags, Or Other Government-Related Flags. In July 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, which would "also prohibit the use of the bill's funds to provide abortions, to implement a September 2022 VA rule that allows abortion counseling and establishes exceptions for the prohibition on abortions in the medical benefits package for veterans and civilian beneficiaries, to provide surgical procedures or hormone therapies for gender-affirming care, and to fly or display a flag over a VA facility or national cemetery that is not the U.S. flag, military-related or another government jurisdiction" The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 219 to 211, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 380, 7/27/23; Congressional Quarterly, 7/27/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4366]
2022: Schweikert Voted To Establish A Food Security Office Within The Veterans Affairs Department, Which Would Help Veterans With The Availability And Eligibility Of Federal Nutrition Assistance Program And Identify And Treat At-Risk Veterans. In September 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the Food Security for All Veterans Act, which would "establish a food security office at the Veterans Affairs Department to provide information to veterans concerning the availability of, and eligibility requirements for, federal nutrition assistance programs; collaborate with relevant program offices, both within the VA and at other agencies, to develop and implement policies and procedures to identify and treat veterans at-risk or experiencing food insecurity; and, in consultation with the Agriculture Department, submit an annual report to Congress on veteran food insecurity, including demographics on such veterans and data on specific interventions for veterans who screen positive for food insecurity." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 376-49. The Senate did not take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 469, 9/29/22; Congressional Quarterly, 9/29/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 8888]
2023: Schweikert Voted To Provide $317.4 Billion In Mandatory And Discretionary Spending For The Department Of Veterans Affairs. In July 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, which would "provide $317.4 billion in mandatory and discretionary funding for the VA, including $121 billion for VA medical care programs, $166 billion for veteran disability compensation and other benefits, $151.4 billion for veteran pensions, $17.5 billion for military construction projects and $2 billion for military personnel housing." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 219 to 211, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 380, 7/27/23; Congressional Quarterly, 7/27/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4366]
The Bill Would Provide $189 Million For Arlington National Cemetery. According to Congressional Quarterly, "provide $189 million for Arlington National Cemetery, including funding for its southern expansion." [Congressional Quarterly, 7/27/23]
Despite The Military Construction-VA Bill Being Considered The Least Controversial Of The 12 Spending Bills, Democrats Opposed The Military Construction-VA Bill For Including Extremist Policy Riders And Reducing Military Housing Funding. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The House passed its first fiscal 2024 spending bill Thursday, funding veterans benefits and military construction projects, by a razor-thin margin along party lines that signaled a troubled road ahead for the appropriations process. The $317.4 billion Military Construction-VA bill (HR 4366), usually considered the least controversial of the 12 annual spending measures, passed on a 219-211 vote. Democrats marched in lockstep against the bill, saying it was chock-full of extremist policy riders and would cut military housing money needed by troops and their families." [Congressional Quarterly, 7/27/23]
The Bill Would Increase Funding For The VA Above FY 2022 Levels, Including Over $130 Billion For Veterans' Medical Care And Increases For Military Construction Projects. According to The Hill, "On the Milcon-VA bill, GOP negotiators proposed more than $317 billion in funding, which includes increases for the VA above current levels. The bill also calls for more than $130 billion for veterans' medical care and a boost for Department of Defense military construction projects." [The Hill, 7/27/23]
The Bill Would Prevent The VA From Displaying LGBTQ Pride Flags And Limit Advances To Equity And Diversity. According to The Hill, "Other measures the White House criticized include sections Democrats say would prevent the VA from displaying LGBTQ pride flags and language that would limit administration efforts to advance equity and diversity." [The Hill, 7/27/23]
2022: Schweikert Voted Against The FY 2023 Omnibus Spending Package, Which Provided $154.2 Billion For The Department Of Veterans Affairs, Military Construction And Related Agencies. In December 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against concurring with the Senate amendment to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which would "provide approximately $25.5 billion for the Agriculture Department and related agencies; $82.4 billion for the Commerce and Justice departments and science and related agencies; $797.7 billion for the Defense Department; $54 billion for the Energy Department and federal water projects; $27.6 billion for the Treasury Department, federal judiciary and a number of executive agencies; $60.7 billion for the Homeland Security Department; $38.9 billion for the Interior Department, EPA and related agencies; $207.4 billion for the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education departments and related agencies; $6.9 billion for legislative branch entities; $154.2 billion for the Veterans Affairs Department, military construction, and related agencies; $59.7 billion for the State Department and related agencies; and $87.3 billion for the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development departments and related agencies." The vote was on a motion to concur. The House concurred with the Senate amendment by a vote of 225-201, thus bill was sent to President Biden and ultimately became law. [House Vote 549, 12/23/22; Congressional Quarterly, 12/23/22; Congressional Actions, S.Amdt. 6552; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2617]
The FY 2023 Omnibus Package Expanded And Improved Access To Health Care And Mental Health Services And VA Benefits Through The Veterans Affairs Department According to Congressional Quarterly, "include a wide range of provisions to expand and improve access to Veterans Affairs Department health care and mental health services, as well other VA benefits." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/23/22]
The FY 2023 Omnibus Provided A 22.4% Increase For Medical Care Through The Veteran Administration. According to CNN, "The package funds a 4.6% pay raise for troops and a 22.4% increase in support for Veteran Administration medical care, which provides health services for 7.3 million veterans." [CNN, 12/29/22]
The FY 2023 Omnibus Included $53 Billion To Address Inflation And $2.7 Billion To Support Services And Housing Assistance For Veterans. According to CNN, "It includes nearly $53 billion to address higher inflation and $2.7 billion -- a 25% increase -- to support critical services and housing assistance for veterans and their families." [CNN, 12/29/22]
The FY 2023 Omnibus Included An Additional $5 Billion To Support The Implementation Of The PACT Act That Expanded Eligibility For Medical Services And Benefits To Veterans Who Suffered Toxic Exposure. According to CNN, "The law also allocates $5 billion for the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund, which provides additional funding to implement the landmark PACT Act that expands eligibility for health care services and benefits to veterans with conditions related to toxic exposure during their service." [CNN, 12/29/22]
2022: Schweikert Voted Against Appropriating $298.6 Billion To The Veterans Affairs Department For FY 2023, Including $119.7 Billion For Health Care Programs And $163.6 Billion For Veterans' Compensation And Pensions. In July 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023, which would "provide $298.6 billion in mandatory and discretionary funding for the VA, including $119.7 billion for health care programs and $163.6 billion for veterans' compensation and pensions." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote 220-207, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The Senate did not take substantive action on the legislation. Congress passed and signed into law the FY 2023 Budget through H.R. 2617. [House Vote 383, 7/20/22; Congressional Quarterly, 7/20/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 8294]
2019: Schweikert Voted Against The FY 2020 Minibus Appropriations Bill, Which Provided $216.5 Billion For The VA Including $5.4 Billion More In Discretionary Spending Than FY 2019. In December 2019, Schweikert voted against the FY 2020 minibus spending bill, which represented 8 of the 12 appropriations bills. According to Congressional Quarterly, "the agreement provides for a total of $216.5 billion in FY 2020 for all veterans programs --- including $91.9 billion in discretionary spending, primarily for veterans health programs, and $124.6 billion for mandatory programs, primarily veterans compensation and pensions. The discretionary total for FY 2020 is $5.4 billion more than FY 2019. Of the total for FY 2020, $198.8 billion represents advance appropriations for FY 2020 provided by prior-year appropriations laws. In addition, the measure provides $218.6 billion in advance appropriations for FY 2021 --- $87.6 billion for VA's medical accounts and $131.0 billion for mandatory VA benefits. [...] The agreement funds the VA MISSION Act at $8.9 billion in FY 2020 and $11.3 billion in FY 2021. It also provides $154 million for the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act. Finally, it provides $1.9 billion for VA homelessness programs and $3.1 billion for claims processing." The vote was a motion to concur in the Senate amendment. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 297-120. The Senate later passed the bill and the President signed the bill into law. [House Vote 689, 12/17/19; Congressional Quarterly, 12/17/19; Congressional Actions, H.R.1865]
2018: Schweikert Voted Against The $1.3 Trillion FY 2018 Omnibus Spending Deal Which Raised Spending By $138 Billion Over FY 2017 Levels, Including $7 Billion For The VA. In March 2018, Schweikert voted against the FY 2018 Omnibus spending bill. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Combined, the spending measures would provide about $1.3 trillion in discretionary spending, with $1.2 trillion subject to discretionary spending caps, and $78.1 billion designated as Overseas Contingency Operations funds. The measure's spending levels are consistent with the increased defense and non-defense budget caps set by the two-year budget deal agreed to last month. That agreement increased the FY 2018 defense cap by $80 billion and the non-defense cap by $63 billion. Given that the previous caps were set to reduce overall discretionary spending by $5 billion, the net increase provided by the omnibus is $138 billion over the FY 2017 level." The vote was on the motion to concur in the Senate Amendment with an Amendment. The House agreed to the motion, thereby passing the bill, by a vote of 256 to 167. The Senate later agreed to the legislation, sending it to the president, who signed it into law. [House Vote 127, 3/22/18; Congressional Quarterly, 3/22/18; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1625]
2016: Schweikert Voted Against A Continuing Resolution Funding The Government Through December 9, 2016 That Also Funded Veterans Health Care For The Entire Fiscal Year, But Did Not Include Aid For Flint, Michigan. In September 2016, Schweikert voted against a ten week continuing resolution. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Congress could pass one of its 12 annual appropriations bills this week, if the fiscal 2017 Military Construction-VA conference report stays intact inside the stopgap spending bill. [...] If approved, the bill would fund veterans' health care programs and military construction projects throughout the next fiscal year and doesn't appear to be one of the remaining conflicts to reaching a bipartisan deal to fund the government through Sept. 30." In addition, according to Congressional Quarterly, the legislation was a "continuing resolution [...] that keeps the government running through Dec. 9." The vote was on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment. The House agreed to the motion, effectively passing the bill by a vote of 342 to 85. The Senate had already passed the legislation. The president then signed the bill into law. [House Vote 573, 9/28/16; Congressional Quarterly, 9/23/16; Congressional Quarterly, 9/26/16; Congressional Quarterly, 9/22/16; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 5082; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5325]
Democrats Objected To The CR Because It Did Not Include Aid For Flint, Michigan. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Democrats and Republicans appear to be locked in a staring contest over the lack of government assistance for Flint, Mich., in a stopgap spending bill, with aides on both sides suggesting they're waiting for the other side to blink. Democrats roundly criticized a GOP written continuing resolution filed Thursday by Senate Republicans, but the measure actually met many of the spending and policy demands Democrats had made throughout weeks of negotiations --- except for a Flint response. Their central objection to the stopgap is the inclusion of flood relief for Louisiana and likely other states without also providing aid for Flint to address major problems caused by lead contamination in the city water supply." [Congressional Quarterly, 9/26/16]
Legislation Was Originally Blocked, Primarily By Senate Democrats Due, To Flint Aid Omission; Deal With Minority Leader Pelosi And Speaker Ryan Over Flint Aid In A Water Bill Sealed The CR's Passage. According to the Washington Post, "The Senate cemented an agreement Wednesday to avoid an Oct. 1 government shutdown after House Republicans allowed a vote on federal aid to address the water crisis in Flint, Mich., removing a major obstacle in negotiations. [...] Democrats made clear earlier this week they would not support the spending bill unless Republicans moved to guarantee Flint aid, while GOP leaders countered the Senate had approved Flint aid earlier this month in a separate water projects bill. The impasse was broken late Tuesday after House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) struck a deal allowing a vote to attach $170 million in Flint relief to the House version of the water bill. That bill is expected to pass late Wednesday; the stopgap spending measure is expected to pass shortly afterward." [Washington Post, 9/28/16]
2015: Schweikert Voted Against Funding Veterans Programs For FY 2016 As Part Of The FY 2016 Omnibus. In December 2015, Schweikert voted against funding federal veterans programs. According to Congressional Quarterly, the legislation would have "provide[d] for a total of $162.7 billion for all veterans programs (net discretionary and mandatory) in FY 2016 --- $3.5 billion (2%) more than the FY 2015 level but $2 billion (1%) less than requested. [...] Of the total provided for veterans for FY 2016, a net $71.4 billion (44%) is for discretionary spending, primarily veterans health programs, and $91.3 billion (56%) is for mandatory programs, primarily veterans compensation and pensions. The measure provides $1.3 billion more than requested in discretionary funding but $3.3 billion less than requested in mandatory funding. The measure also provides $63.3 billion in discretionary advance appropriations for FY 2017 for VA's medical services, medical support and compliance, and medical facilities accounts, as well as $102.5 billion in mandatory advance appropriations for FY 2017 for veterans benefits." The legislation was, according to Congressional Quarterly, a FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill. The vote was on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill with an amendment. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 316 to 113. The legislation was later combined with a tax extender bill. The Senate passed the larger measure and the president signed it. [House Vote 705, 12/18/15; Congressional Quarterly, 12/18/15; Congressional Quarterly, 12/15/15; Congressional Quarterly, 12/17/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2029]
2015: Schweikert Voted For The FY 2016 Military Construction And VA Appropriations Bill Which Contained Over $500 Million In Funds In Un-Capped Spending. In April 2015, Schweikert voted for the FY 2016 military construction and VA appropriations bill. According to Congressional Quarterly, the legislation would have "provide[d] $171.1 billion in fiscal 2016 for the Veterans Affairs department, military construction and military housing. It would [have] provide[d] $76.6 billion in discretionary spending, including $60.2 billion for veterans' health programs. The bill would [have] provide[d] $94.5 billion in mandatory spending for veterans' service-connected compensation, benefits and pensions. The total also include[d] $7.7 billion for military construction, including $1.4 billion for military family housing. The bill would [have] provide[d] $167.3 billion in advance appropriations for certain VA medical care accounts for fiscal 2017." The vote was on the legislation. The House passed the legislation by a vote of 255 to 163. The Congress later passed an Omnibus spending measure in December. [House Vote 193, 4/30/15; Congressional Quarterly, 4/30/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2029]
2013: Schweikert Voted To Provide $136 Billion To Fund All Veterans' Programs Through FY 2013, As Well As $54.5 Billion In Advance FY 2014 Funding For Certain VA Medical Services-Related Areas. In March 2013, Schweikert voted for the House's version of the FY 2013 Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations Bill, which was bundled with a defense appropriations bill for FY2013, and a continuing resolution funding the rest of the government through the end of FY 2013 at FY 2012 levels. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill provides for a total of $135.8 billion for all veterans programs (discretionary and mandatory) in FY 2013. [...] In addition, the measure provides the requested $54.5 billion in advance appropriations for FY 2014 for VA's medical services, medical support and compliance, and medical facilities accounts. [...] Of the total provided for veterans in FY 2013, $62.9 billion (46%) is for discretionary spending, primarily veterans' health programs, and $72.9 billion (54%) is for mandatory programs, primarily veterans' compensation and pensions. Both are essentially equal to the president's request. None of the funding provided in this bill for Veterans Affairs is subject to sequestration." The House passed the bill by a vote of 267 to 151. Following House passage, the Senate passed a substitute version of the bill, which the House then approved and the president signed into law. [House Vote 62, 3/6/13; Congressional Quarterly, 3/6/13; Congressional Actions, H.R. 933]
2009: Congress Decided To Fund Certain VA Medical Accounts One Fiscal Year In Advance, In Order To Address The Uncertainty Created By Its Repeated Failure To Fund VA Health Care By The Start Of A New Fiscal Year. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The House voted Thursday [October 8, 2009] to put politically sensitive veterans' health care programs on a two-year budget cycle. [...] The bill would authorize appropriations for the VA medical care programs one year in advance of the start of each fiscal year. [...] [T]he version approved by the House would provide advance appropriations authority starting in fiscal 2011 for three Veterans Health Administration medical care accounts: medical services, medical support and compliance, and medical facilities. Advocates say the change, which is supported by President Obama, would create more fiscal predictability for the medical accounts handled by the VA. [...] Supporters of the change say that for years the agency's health care system has been plagued by consistently late and, at times, inadequate budgets. Final appropriations for the VA have not been enacted before the start of the fiscal year in 19 of the past 22 years. The trend has continued into the current fiscal year [FY 2010], which began Oct. 1 [2009]. Additionally, requests for supplemental appropriations for VA health care have increased in frequency." [Congressional Quarterly, 10/8/09]
FY 2013 Funding Was $11.7 Billion More Than FY 2012, But Was $1.7 Billion Less Than Requested. According to Congressional Quarterly, the $135.8 billion in FY 2013 funding was "$11.7 billion (9%) more than the FY 2012 level but $1.7 billion (1%) less than the president's request." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/6/13]
FY 2013 Funding Total Included $52.5 Billion That Had Been Already Been Provided By The Previous Year's VA Funding Bill. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Of amounts available to the VA for FY 2013, $52.5 billion represents advance appropriations for FY 2013 provided by the FY 2012 Military Construction-VA appropriations law (PL 112-74)." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/6/13]
2022: Schweikert Voted Against Providing Funding For Medical Facility Leases, Including $922 Million For Enhanced-Use Leases In FY 2022, And $1.9 Billion For FY 2023 And Over $3.6 Billion For FY 2024 Through 2031 For Major Medical Facility Leases. In July 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, which would "modify certain VA leasing authorities and appropriate funding for VA medical facility leases, including $922 million for fiscal 2022 for enhanced-use leases, and $1.9 billion for fiscal 2023 and over $3.6 billion for fiscal years 2024 through 2031 for major medical facility leases." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote 342-88, thus the bill was sent to President Biden and became law. [House Vote 309, 7/13/22; Congressional Quarterly, 7/13/22; Congressional Actions, S. 3373]
2024: Schweikert Voted To Prohibit The Removal Of The Department Of Veterans Affairs' Mission Statement From Signage. In June 2024, Schweikert voted for , according to Congressional Quarterly, "amendment no. 42 that would prohibit the use of funds provided by the bill to modify or remove any display of the VA that bears the mission statement 'To fulfill President Lincoln's promise 'to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan' by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's veterans.'" The vote was on the amendment. The underlying legislation was the FY 2025 Military Construction-VA Appropriations. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 206 to 200. [House Vote 241, 6/4/24; Congressional Quarterly, 6/4/24; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.954; Congressional Actions, H.R. 8580]
2023: Schweikert Voted For An Amendment That Would Prohibit The Use Of VA And Military Construction Funding To Modify Or Remove Any Display That Shows The Original VA Mission Statement. In July 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for an amendment to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, which would "bar the use of funds provided by the bill to modify or remove any display of the Veterans Affairs Department that bears its mission statement." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 221 to 212. [House Vote 376, 7/26/23; Congressional Quarterly, 7/26/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4366; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 301]
The Amendment Would Prevent The VA From Changing Their Mission Statement. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Among the newest of the 100-plus amendments submitted to the House Rules Committee, which is meeting Tuesday afternoon, is one from Freedom Caucus and Rules member Chip Roy, R-Texas, that would prevent the VA from changing its mission statement, which is displayed at around half the agencies' facilities. Roy's amendment would preserve the current statement, which is this: 'To fulfill President Lincoln's promise 'to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan' by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's veterans.'" [Congressional Quarterly, 7/25/23]
March 2023: The VA Announced They Were Changing Their Mission Statement To Be More Inclusive. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The new mission statement, which the VA announced in March --- arguing it would be more inclusive --- is this: "To fulfill President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors." [Congressional Quarterly, 7/25/23]
2023: Schweikert Voted For An Amendment That Would Have Eliminated All Funding For The Office Of Resolution Management, Diversity And Inclusion Within The Veterans Affairs Department. In July 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for an amendment to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, which would "strike all funding, $86.5 million, for the Office of Resolution Management, Diversity, and Inclusion within the Veterans Affairs Department." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 204 to 227. [House Vote 372, 7/26/23; Congressional Quarterly, 7/26/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4366; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 296]
2023: Schweikert Voted To Prohibit The Use Of VA Funding To Interfere With A Veteran's Participation In A Legal State Medical Marijuana Program. In July 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, which would "prohibit the use of the bill's funds to interfere with a veteran's participation in a legal state medical cannabis program, to enforce COVID-19 mask mandates, and to implement the COVID-19 vaccination program for VA health care personnel." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 219 to 211, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 380, 7/27/23; Congressional Quarterly, 7/27/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4366]
2014: Schweikert Voted For Legislation Expanding Veteran's Access To Health Care, Reforming Veterans Affairs (VA) Personnel Policies And Expanding VA Medical Staff. In July 2014, Schweikert voted for legislation expanding veterans' access to health care, reforming the personnel policy of the VA and expanding VA medical staff. According to Congressional Quarterly, "the agreement increases veterans' access to health care in the wake of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department scandal involving falsified appointment records that hid long wait times, allowing veterans to obtain health care at non-VA facilities if they live more than 40 miles from a VA clinic or can't get an appointment at a VA clinic within 30 days, and it increases the VA's capacity to provide services by providing expedited authority to hire more doctors and nurses [,] [...] authorizing leases for the opening of 27 new VA health facilities [and] [...] authorizes the VA secretary to fire or demote VA Senior Executive Service employees based on their performance or misconduct, providing for a limited appeals process during which the employee would not be paid." The House passed the conference agreement by a vote of 420 to 5; the conference agreement was later agreed to by the Senate and was signed into law by the president. [House Vote 467, 7/30/14; Congressional Quarterly, 7/31/14; Congressional Quarterly, Accessed 9/28/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3230]
Legislation Came After Revelations Of Falsified Wait-Time Records For Medical Appointments By The Department of Veterans Affairs, Reports That 57,000 Veterans Waited More Than 90 Days For A Medical Appointments And The Resignation Of Then VA Secretary Shinseki. According to Congressional Quarterly, "After revelations this spring that some employees of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department were falsifying wait-time records for veterans' medical appointments and keeping many patients on unofficial waitlists to create the appearance that they were reaching wait time targets, there was nearly universal support in Congress for overhauling the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and for making the VA more accountable. Former VA Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned in late May, shortly after the VA's inspector general reported that as many as 1,700 veterans at the Phoenix VA health facility were waiting for appointments outside of the clinic's official waiting list (with many waiting an average of 115 days for their first primary-care appointment). Moreover, the IG report noted that 'inappropriate scheduling practices are a systemic problem nationwide.' On June 9, the VA, under acting Secretary Sloan D. Gibson, released a review that found that 57,000 veterans nationwide waited more than 90 days for an appointment, while 64,000 others requested medical care but never made it onto a VA waiting list. The review also found that large numbers of VA schedulers were told by their superiors to falsify appointment requests and that such fraud was found at most VA health facilities." [Congressional Quarterly, 7/31/14]
Earlier in 2014, The Senate And The House Has Passed Differing Versions Of The Same Bill, Costs Became A Concern. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The House over the past few months passed a number of bills intended to increase accountability at the VA and provide greater access to health services for veterans, while the Senate passed a single, comprehensive measure to address the VA's issues. [...] During conference deliberations, the potential costs of both the House and Senate versions to provide greater access to non-VA health care services became the major focus and a cause of concern. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) initially estimated that those provisions in the Senate version would cost $35 billion through FY 2019 and the House version $44 billion and that, under both measures, veterans could ultimately seek additional care costing the government at least $50 billion a year if the temporary access to non-VA care was allowed to continue. CBO later reduced those potential costs somewhat, but they still remained very high. [...] Republicans also expressed reservations that the costs of the Senate bill were classified as emergency spending that is exempt from budget caps, compared with the House version, where costs would be subject to the availability of appropriations." [Congressional Quarterly, 7/31/14]