Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008

The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 (H.R. 4104) was a bill in the 110th Congress "making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes." (Official title.)

Current status


Bill summary

 * Designates differing amounts of payments to be made to fund the higher education of individuals who have served on active duty in the Armed Forces beginning on or after September 11, 2001 based on factors such as length of active duty service and disabilities accrued, and specifies that these payments shall not exceed the cost of in-state tuition at the most expensive public university in the state in which the individual is enrolled (Sec. 3003).


 * Requires the Secretary of Defense to match assistance given to members of the Armed Forces by institutions of higher learning to cover fees and expenses beyond what other provisions of this amendment provide (Sec. 3003).


 * Qualifies unemployed individuals in participating states for emergency unemployment compensation if the individuals have exhausted all rights to regular compensation, have no rights to regular or extended compensation, or are not receiving compensation under the unemployment compensation law of Canada (Sec. 4001).


 * Extends and expands moratoria relating to Medicaid through April 1, 2009, including cutting Medicaid reimbursements to health care providers, removing Medicaid reimbursements for graduate medical education programs, excluding certain social services related to families and children from being included in the Medicaid program, and restricting optional case management services, outpatient hospital services, or allowable provider taxes (Sec. 5001).


 * Appropriates $25 million in 2009 and the same amount in each subsequent year for the purpose of reducing Medicaid fraud and abuse (Sec. 5001).


 * Appropriates funds for military construction, veterans affairs, international affairs and other security-related matters, including $8.7 billion for the Department of State and foreign operations, $4.76 billion for military construction and veterans affairs, $1.25 billion for agriculture, and $229.3 million for commerce, justice, and science.


 * Appropriates funds for domestic matters, including $5.76 billion for hurricane-related expenses for the greater New Orleans area, $210 million for periodic censuses and programs, $178 million for the federal prison system, and $110 million for state unemployment insurance and employment service operations.

Key votes

 * Vote to adopt an amendment to HR 2642 that provides education funding for eligible members of the Armed Forces, extends unemployment compensation, establishes moratoria on certain actions regarding Medicaid, and appropriates funds for various domestic and international purposes.

Supporters

 * AFL-CIO
 * Air Force Sergeants Association Division 610
 * American Legion
 * Americans for Democratic Action
 * National Alliance on Mental Illness
 * Ohio Civil Service Employees Association
 * The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
 * themiddleclass.org

Opponents

 * Common Dreams
 * PDX Peace
 * United for Peace and Justice

Articles and resources

 * USAToday's article Bipartisan accord reached on war funding bill June 24, 2008.
 * The Hill's article Senate panel approves Iraq war funding bill May 15, 2008.
 * The American Legion's article Help IS on the Way! June 14, 2007.