Sanford Bishop: “This, I believe, is really a fraud. This is just a part of the simple game that has been played to justify keeping this…”

“This, I believe, is really a fraud. This is just a part of the simple game that has been played to justify keeping this government shut. The proposed rate of $2.5 billion is the same amount provided in the House- passed MilCon-VA bill earlier this summer, which passed 421-4. It is the same funding request level by the administration. This CR does not touch or do anything for the remaining VA discretionary accounts. In fact, the CR fails to include $155 million for the Veterans Benefits Management System. It fails to include $136 million for the Veterans Claims Intake Program. These two programs are vital to speeding up the claims process; yet they are not included. The medical research account, not included; construction, major and minor, not included; Office of the Secretary, including the Board of Veterans Appeals, $438 million, not included; the VA Office of Inspector General, $116 million, not included; the VA IT, $13.68 billion, not included; grants to State veterans homes, to State cemeteries, the National Cemetery Administration, not included. On June 4, we passed a full bill, a complete bill, a bipartisan bill 421-4. Mr. Speaker, if this measure goes on to become law, which I doubt that it will, a majority of the Federal Government will still be shut down. For example, the Department of Defense will not have the materiel support needed to conduct training to ensure their readiness for the forces at home.…”