House passes measure to protect VA benefits

House passes measure to protect VA benefits

The U.S. House of Representatives has adopted the "Honoring Our Promise to America’s Veterans Act" by a vote of 259-157 Oct. 3.

The joint resolution is designed to guarantee the continuation of veterans benefits payments by extending certain portions of Department of Veterans Affairs funding in the face of a continuing government shutdown and looming government budget default.

The funding resolution provides about $6 billion less for benefits than the House approved this summer during passage of its version of VA’s full-year appropriations bill for fiscal 2014. According to Military Times, the Senate has no plans to take up the bill and the White House has warned it would be vetoed by President Obama.