The Senate is currently deliberating a minibus package that would provide Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 funding for military construction and the VA, as well as the Agriculture, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Departments. Hundreds of amendments were proposed to the measure, and the chamber has already accepted several veteran-related ones that would increase VA’s telehealth capacity; restrict VA’s ability to change special mode of transportation rates; and expand the access of women veterans to mobile mammography initiatives and advanced mammography equipment. Other amendments that will be incorporated into the bill direct VA to inform Congress on its use of third-party contractors to conduct medical disability exams and provide details on the cost and schedule of their new electronic health record project.  

Meanwhile, the House is now resuming its own efforts to pass FY 2024 funding legislation. The chamber has passed four of the twelve annual appropriations bills, so they have a significant amount of work to do as well. Significant differences in terms of overall amounts and specific allocation of funds exist between the two chambers. The House and Senate may reach agreement and pass legislation funding part of the government, but Congress will likely need to pass another short-term continuing resolution (CR) to cover the rest. The current CR runs out on November 17.