Slew of amendments approved for military construction/Veterans Affairs bill

The House approved several amendments to the 2013 military construction and Veterans Affairs bill Thursday evening, after which the House began debate on the 2013 Energy and Water bill.

Of all the amendments debated, only two will require roll call votes, which are expected later Thursday evening. One requiring a vote is from Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), which would prohibit funds from being used to enforce Davis-Bacon requirements related to prevailing wages.

The other, from Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), would strike language prohibiting agencies from requiring contractors to enter into a project labor agreement (see the preceding story).

A third amendment, from Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), sought to restore veterans' status to Filipinos who were stripped of that status. But a point of order was sustained against this amendment.

Other amendments were approved by voice vote; brief descriptions follow here:

• Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), to add $10 million to the Energy Conservation Program at the Defense Department.

• Nan Hayworth (R-N.Y.), to allow reservists to purchase a government headstone even if they were never called up for active service.

• Peter Welch (D-Vt.), to require an inventory of energy efficiency in buildings to be published on a website.

• Lee Terry (R-Neb.), to require an Inspector General report on cost overrides on faulty bidding.

• Blumenauer, designative $35 million for post-traumatic stress disorder and brain trauma treatment.

• Aaron Schock (R-Ill.), to provide $16 million for improved access to healthcare for rural-based veterans.

• Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), to give preferences in awarding contracts to veteran-owned small businesses.

• Ted Poe (R-Texas), to prohibit funds from being used to hire a new director of a national cemetery who is not a veteran.

• Poe, to prohibit the burial services of veterans from being disrupted at national cemeteries.

• Jon Runyan (R-N.J.), to prohibit funds from being used for informal base realignment or closure.

• Bill Flores (R-Texas), to prohibit funds to implement the Energy Security and Independence Act.

• Daniel Webster (R-Fla.), to prohibit funds to be used for a director of construction at VA who does not have a degree in architecture or engineering.

• Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), to prohibit bonuses to senior VA executives.

---