Congresswoman Torres Condemns Republican Funding Bill Which Places Veterans, Servicemembers, and Families in Jeopardy
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) – a senior member of the Appropriations Committee – condemned Republican actions included in the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2025. The bill provides $378,643 billion in funding for veterans affairs, but decreases discretionary funding for critical initiatives by $6.4 billion. This decrease will prevent the military from investing in programs that protect servicemembers’ basic needs.
Through several harmful initiatives, this bill worsens the quality of life for military servicemembers and their families. Additionally, the legislation further limits women’s access to reproductive healthcare, defunds climate change resilience funding and natural disaster relief, and weakens the military’s ability to keep firearms out of the hands of those prohibited from possession.
“Improving the quality of life for military servicemembers and their families is essential to our democracy and national security,” Congresswoman Torres said. “Congress owes it to our servicemembers, who make enormous sacrifices for our freedoms, to provide essential support systems that set them up for success upon their return home. Instead, House Republicans fought for policies that endanger our servicemembers and further divide our country. Despite these harmful funding cuts and poison pill riders, the bill will still include several provisions I fought to secure. I am determined to fight for our veterans, servicemembers, and their families, and I will continue working to expand on my priorities to help veterans access affordable housing, robust educational opportunities, and high-quality employment.”
As a result of Congresswoman Torres’ efforts and the provisions she championed, this government funding bill includes measures to:
- Support Veteran Certification Transfers: Directs the VA to evaluate the transferability service-acquired skills and certifications, including airplane mechanical certifications, to state certifications to aid in transition to civilian employment and directs each Secretary to make any necessary changes to their respective programs.
- Expand Veterans At-Risk of Homelessness Data: Directs the VA Secretary to work with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to expand reporting data on veterans at-risk of homelessness.
- Improve the Post 9/11 GI Bill Books & Supplies Stipend: Directs the VA Secretary to evaluate the need to increase the books and supplies stipend for G.I. bill beneficiaries from the current rate of $1,000 per year to a higher inflation adjusted level.
- Increase Technology for Student Veterans: Directs the VA to create a report within 180 days on the cost and feasibility of ensuring student veterans have access to necessary technologies for their academics.
- Improve HUD-VASH Homeless Veterans Program: Directs the VA to increase the budget for case managers commensurate with any increases in HUD’s budget for new vouchers and to account for increased costs in staffing and recent expansions in eligibility.
- Strengthen Oversight Requirement to Help Constituents Dispute VA Mistakes: Directs the VA to ensure this information is available online in publicly accessible areas at each VA medical center, and that it is made available in English, Spanish, and the eight other most commonly spoken languages in the United States per current laws (P.L. 117-62).
- Suicide Prevention: Directs the VA to include veteran benefit usage into its annual suicide prevention report, including usage of disability compensation, education and employment, home loan and foreclosure assistance benefits, as well as participation in housing and food security programs.
Congresswoman Torres has recently proposed legislation to protect veterans. To read more about her Servicemember Equal Recognition & Transition Support (SERTS) Act, which was included in the House-passed spending package for the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2025, click here.
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