Heinrich To Chair Military Construction And VA Appropriations Subcommittee
Also Announces Roles on Interior and Environment, Energy and Water, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Subcommittees
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a new member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced today that he will serve as the chairman of the Military Construction (MILCON), Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, which oversees funding for new military construction and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Military construction (MILCON) funding enables the U.S. Department of Defense and the military services to plan, design, and build hospitals, dormitories, schools, child development centers, runways and other projects both within the United States and around the world. These modern facilities support military readiness and increase the quality of life for service members and their families.
“Our men and women in uniform make up the strongest, best-trained, most well-equipped military in the world. Through this new leadership role, I am committed to securing the funding and resources the military needs to build modern facilities so our armed forces and their families can continue to keep all of us safe," said Heinrich. “I am looking forward to taking all that I have learned over 12 years serving on both the House and Senate Armed Services Committee to continue strengthening the pivotal national defense role of New Mexico’s military installations—Cannon, Holloman, Kirtland, and White Sands Missile Range—and our defense research laboratories. I will fight to ensure our labs and bases have all of the modern facilities they need to execute their national security missions and contribute to New Mexico’s economy."
The Subcommittee also oversees all funding for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which provides health care services to millions of veterans, benefits to help service members transition back to civilian life, and national cemeteries that provide tributes to service members’ sacrifice to our nation.
“I am committed to fighting for all the resources and funding the VA needs to keep America's promise to our service members and their families when they return home as veterans. I am proud to have several veterans in my family and to serve a state with one of the highest rates of military volunteerism in the nation. Our veterans deserve more than just words of gratitude for their sacrifice when they return home. They deserve the quality care and benefits they have earned," said Heinrich. "I will be especially focused during my chairmanship on securing the funding the VA needs to improve telehealth services for rural veterans, provide better health care and housing assistance for veterans experiencing homelessness, and ensure a robust Covid-19 vaccination program through the entire VA system.”
Senator Heinrich will also serve on the following Appropriations Subcommittees: Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; and Legislative Branch.
