Peters Secures, Helps Advance Funding to Support Michigan’s Defense Footprint and Veterans Through Senate Appropriations Committee
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) helped the Senate Appropriations Committee pass the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. This bipartisan legislation would fund Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs, veterans’ medical care and benefits along with investments to modernize critical military infrastructure and high-impact local projects vital to our country’s national security. The bill now advances to the full Senate. Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives is considering their own funding bills. The Senate and House will then need to reach an agreement on a final funding bill and have it pass both chambers before being sent to the President to be signed into law.
“This is a strong first step and would deliver important resources to support veterans and their families who have sacrificed for our country. It would also further strengthen Michigan’s defense footprint and our national security,” said Senator Peters. “I’ll continue to keep pushing to ensure Michigan and our veterans have the resources they need, while making sure taxpayer dollars are used effectively, as we continue working on bills to fund the government.”
The bill includes measures led and supported by Peters, including:
- Funding for a Manned/Unmanned Tactical Vehicle Lab at the Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center in Warren, Michigan: Would provide $2.4 million to support the construction of a facility for a tactical vehicle laboratory as part of the Army’s strategic plan to provide a safer, more capable, and efficient warfighter.
- Funding to support the construction of a Ground Transport Equipment Building at the Detroit Arsenal: Would provide $72 million to support the construction of a new building to provide research and development (R&D) laboratory space to support the advanced tactical and combat system mission functions. This follows Peters securing $2.5 million last year to help advance and complete the Mound Road/Detroit Arsenal Connector Project, which is a corridor that is home not only to the Detroit Arsenal but General Motors Tech Center, BAE Systems, General Dynamics Land Systems, as well as Stellantis and Ford Plants.
- Funding to support construction of two organic supply buildings at Battle Creek Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center (MCRC): Would provide approximately $24 million to construct two new buildings and a vehicle wash platform, in support of the active duty personnel and drilling reserve personnel assigned to MCRC Battle Creek.
- Funding for VA medical care and to support women veterans: Would provide resources for medical services, medical community care, and medical facilities – including to support women veterans health care and to strengthen the VA’s caregiver program, which Peters has long advocated for, including through legislation he led that was signed into law to strengthen transparency and communication for veterans and caregivers participating in the program.
- Funding for the VA State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program: Would provide funding to allow states to make critical facility upgrades or construct new facilities to serve aging veteran populations at State Veterans Homes, which is funding Peters has consistently advocated for.
- Funding for VA medical research: Would fund research to advance efforts related to Traumatic Brain Injury, PFAS exposure, and veterans with deployment-related respiratory disease to continue efforts to identify non-invasive, FDA approved screening technologies that save veterans from invasive procedures.
- Funding to support veteran mental health services and suicide prevention efforts: Would support various VA mental health initiatives and suicide prevention outreach efforts, including the Veterans Crisis Line, Suicide Prevention Coordinators and improvements to depression treatment.
- Language allowing VA doctors to discuss medical cannabis with patients: Would remove the policy that prohibits VA doctors from recommending medical marijuana to patients in states where it is legal.
###
