Work on a “minibus” of multiple federal agencies’ fiscal 2019 budgets was abruptly halted Thursday over a dispute regarding Department of Veterans Affairs health funds that critics say could cripple the agency in coming years.
A conference committee scheduled to officially launch negotiations between House and Senate lawmakers on the appropriations package was cancelled at the last minute Thursday morning for unspecified reasons. A few hours later, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., acknowledged the delay was due to problems with VA funding.
SOURCE – READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT: https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2018/07/12/va-funding-dispute-sidelines-congress-appropriations-progress/