House agrees to health-related amendments to DOD spending bill

The House Wednesday afternoon had agreed to three minor amendments to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, all of which would ensure spending on specific health-related issues faced by U.S. service members.

By voice vote, the House agreed to an amendment from Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) that would take $16 million from a broad Defense-wide account and use it for a prostate cancer research program. Members also agreed to language from Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) that would ensure $19 million goes to help people with traumatic brain injuries.

A third amendment that would steer $500,000 for post traumatic stress disorder research was also accepted by voice vote. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) proposed this language; however, she withdrew another amendment steering $600,000 to breast cancer research.

The House began the amendment process for the bill shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday, and roll call votes on several other amendments that have been debated are expected in the evening.

By the late afternoon, members had rejected a handful of amendments by voice vote, all from Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.). These include language that would end an environmental quality testing program in the Army, an Army HIV research program, and an environmental protection program in the Navy.

Broun argued that cutting these programs would save $70 million, and said these are functions that don't belong in the Armed Forces.