Senate Passes Bill Boosting Veterans' Emergency Medical Reimbursements and Funds for Israel, Ukraine, Indo-Pacific Security Measures (79-18)

Senate passed a bill improving how veterans are paid back for emergency medical care and supporting defense and emergency aid for Israel, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific. The bill also works against fentanyl distribution, helps Ukraine's economy, fights technology threats, and sanctions Iran and terror financing. It includes money for military, aid, and defense systems, focusing on emergencies and security teamwork. Vote was 79 for, 18 against.

This is about H.R. 815, a bill that is divided into several parts to help improve security and support for Israel, Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific region, and other areas. It also includes plans for dealing with drug issues and technology from foreign adversaries. The bill provides a lot of money for different purposes until certain dates.

  • For Israel: $4.4 billion is given for defense needs and it must be used by September 30, 2025. This includes money to replace or fix equipment given to Israel or to help countries supporting Israel. There's also $801.4 million for Army ammunition, $5.2 billion for defense equipment like the Iron Dome and David's Sling systems ($4 billion) and the Iron Beam system ($1.2 billion) to protect against rocket attacks, all due by September 30, 2026. Lastly, $198.6 million goes towards manufacturing needs important for defense, without a specific end date.

  • Other Support: Another $2.44 billion is for the U.S. Defense Department to use by September 30, 2024, for things like protecting U.S. forces, deterrence, and covering combat expenses in the Central Command region, but the money can't be used until the Defense Department explains how it'll be spent. This money can move to different areas within the Defense budget as needed.

Each section of the bill is treated separately, so when it says "this Act," it means just that part of the bill. This bill covers a wide range of national and international security needs, provides support to allies, and deals with several domestic and foreign policy issues.

97 votes
Yes79
No18
Not Voting3
Apr 23, 2024, 09:10 PM (Washington D.C.)
0
  1. Signed by President.
  2. Presented to President.
  3. Became Public Law No: 118-50.
  4. Conference report agreed to in Senate Motion by Senator Schumer to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 815 with an amendment (SA 1842) made in Senate. (CR S2944)
  5. Conference report agreed to in Senate Motion by Senator Schumer to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 815. (CR S2943)
  6. Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 815 by Yea-Nay Vote. 79 - 18. Record Vote Number: 154.
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  7. Cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 815 invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 80 - 19. Record Vote Number: 152. (CR S2960-2961)
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  8. Motion by Senator Schumer to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 815. (CR S2943)
  9. Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  10. Cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 815 presented in Senate. (CR S2943-2944)
  11. Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 815 by Yea-Nay Vote. 79 - 18. Record Vote Number: 154.
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  12. Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to the measure (the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment) agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 75 - 20. Record Vote Number: 153. (CR S2991)
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  13. Point of order by Senator Lee pursuant to section 314(e) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 against the measure raised in Senate.
  14. Motion by Senator Schumer to refer to Senate Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 1844) fell when cloture was invoked on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 815 in Senate.
  15. Motion by Senator Schumer to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 815 with an amendment (SA 1842) made in Senate. (CR S2944)
  16. Motion to table the motion to refer the House message to accompany H.R. 815 to the Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 1844) rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 50. Record Vote Number: 151.
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  17. Motion by Senator Schumer to refer to Senate Committee on Appropriations the House message to accompany H.R. 815 with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 1844) made in Senate. (CR S2944)

  18. Engrossed Amendment House

    The current document significantly expands and includes more detailed provisions compared to the previous document. Here's a thorough comparison:

    1. Division Names and Focus: The current document introduces new divisions focused on Israel, Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific region, technology and terrorism prevention, and addressing the Fentanyl crisis, among others. The previous document was more focused on military personnel adjustments and Ukraine-specific security assistance.
    2. Funding for Israel Security: The current document allocates $4.4 billion for "Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide" to support Israel until September 30, 2025, and explains how these funds can be used and transferred, which wasn't specified in the same detail in the previous document.
    3. Procurement for Israel's Defense Systems: It provides $5.2 billion for "Procurement, Defense-Wide" to fund Israel's Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Iron Beam defense systems, with specific allocations mentioned for each system. The previous document did not mention this.
    4. Defense Production Act Purchases: The current document includes a new section allocating $198.6 million for "Defense Production Act Purchases" to support activities under the Defense Production Act of 1950, which wasn't included in the previous document.
    5. General Provisions for the Department of Defense: It includes an additional $2.44 billion for the Department of Defense for U.S. operations and force protection in the Central Command region, with a requirement of an execution plan and notification to congressional committees before funds are transferred or used.
    6. Title and Division Changes: The previous document titled "National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" focused on military personnel and Ukraine, whereas the current document encompasses a broader range of security concerns, including "Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" and mentions of specific acts related to technology, terrorism, and drug trafficking.

    These changes introduce a more extensive and detailed approach to addressing security issues across various regions, including Israel and the Indo-Pacific, and incorporate new funding initiatives for defense systems procurement, technology, and counter-terrorism efforts that were not specifically detailed in the previous document.

  19. Engrossed Amendment Senate

    The changes from the previous document to the current one include:

    1. The previous document focuses on adjustments to veterans' eligibility for emergency treatment reimbursement and housing loan fees. It specifies:

      • Veterans can receive emergency treatment reimbursement without prior care if the treatment occurs within 60 days after enrolling in a specific healthcare system.
      • It changes the expiration date for certain housing loan fees from November 14, 2031, to December 28, 2031.

    2. The current document shifts the topic entirely from veterans' affairs to a National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act for 2024, suggesting a funding or policy focus related to national security rather than veterans' healthcare or benefits.

  20. Engrossed in House

    The changes in the current document compared to the previous one are:

    1. The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) now says loan fees will change on "December 28, 2031," instead of "November 14, 2031".
    2. The current document includes a closing section indicating it "Passed the House of Representatives March 7, 2023," along with an "Attest" statement, which was not present in the previous document.
  21. Introduced in House

    This bill, called the "Removing Extraneous Loopholes Insuring Every Veteran Emergency Act" or the "RELIEVE Act", is about helping veterans get their emergency medical treatment paid for more easily if they get this treatment through a program called the Veterans Community Care program. Right now, to get money back for emergency treatment, veterans need to have gotten some other care through the Veterans Health Administration within 24 months before the emergency happens. This bill wants to change that rule. If a veteran has just signed up for the veterans' healthcare system and it's been 60 days or less, they can get their emergency treatment costs covered without having to have gotten care before. This new rule would start one year after the bill is passed.

  22. Placed on Calendar Senate

    This is a law about helping veterans—the people who served in the military. The most important point is this law makes it easier for veterans to get their money back for emergency medical treatments if they need to go to a local hospital instead of a veterans' hospital. Right now, veterans can only get their money back if they have already visited a veterans' hospital before, but this law changes that. If a veteran has just signed up for veterans' health care in the last 60 days, they don't have to have visited a veterans' hospital first to get their money back for an emergency.

    Another key detail is this law changes the date related to fees for veterans when they get a home loan. Before, certain fees veterans had to pay for getting a home loan through special veteran programs were set to stop on November 14, 2031. This law moves that date to December 28, 2031, which means the fees will continue a little bit longer.

    That's about it. This law focuses on making sure veterans are taken care of properly, especially when it comes to surprise medical treatments and buying a house. It might sound a bit confusing, but it's all about making it fairer for people who served in the military, so they don't have to worry as much about money for important things like health and a home.