Big VA budget boost included in controversial spending bill

Military Times: House Democrats on Thursday advanced a nearly $400 billion spending bill that includes a hefty increase in Veterans Affairs spending next year and also restrictions on President Donald Trump’s ability to move military construction money into southern border wall construction.

The passage — by a 227-194 party line vote — was the second major appropriations package advanced by the chamber this month, as party leaders set their priorities for fiscal 2020 spending and push back on White House demands for more military spending and less money for other domestic priorities.

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