Guinta: House Bill Provides More Funds to NH National Guard

WASHINGTON, DC – The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill that passed the House of Representatives today includes funding for the Global War on Terror, as well as to upgrade equipment at National Guard locations throughout New Hampshire.

Submitted by Brendan Thomas of U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta's Office

“National defense is the first priority of the federal government. In the Constitution, it’s the clearest duty of the President and Congress. And security starts with making sure our soldiers are well equipped. I’m proud any time I can help New Hampshire National Guard members prepare for their very difficult jobs,” said U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta, R-NH, who recently attended a ceremony for Granite Staters deploying to fight in the Middle East. “What our troops need most of all, however, is stronger leadership from this Commander-in-Chief. Putting their lives on the line to fight ISIS and Taliban, they need a morale boost, in addition to the best tools.”

Specifically, Army National Guard locations in Hooksett and Rochester would receive funding for vehicle repairs, as would the Air National Guard at Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard would receive funding for improvements. Additionally, the appropriations bill directs funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs to address a backlog of more than 366,000 veterans’ health care claims.

In 2014, whistleblowers at several VA hospitals revealed that employees manipulated patient wait list data to collect performance bonuses. Over a 10-year period, more than 300,000 vets may have died before receiving medical appointments. Congress passed the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Actto provide more doctors, staff and VA treatment centers, and to expand vets’ private health care options.

Guinta previously introduced legislation to eliminate restrictions on veterans’ access to private care and bonuses to senior VA executives who fail to meet reasonable performance goals, as required by law. He has voted for measures to require quarterly progress reports from VA officials, rapid response teams to fix problems, and tighter cost controls of VA construction projects.

“We must fulfill our promise to the brave men and women who fought for our country. That means ensuring the VA operates efficiently and effectively, directing its resources to vets, not comfortable bureaucrats,” said Rep. Guinta.

Yesterday's bill also provides funding for more veterans’ health care facilities, fertility treatments and adoption services for injured veterans, and funding for international efforts to control the Zika virus, in particular vaccine research at the National Institutes of Health.

A measure prevents the Obama Administration from directing any funds to closure of the Guantanamo Bay military prison in Cuba.