S. 4997 – Veterans Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024

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Updated January 20, 2026 at 6:40 PM UTC

The Veterans Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 provides extra money for the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Benefits Administration for fiscal year 2024. It adds funding for veterans’ compensation, pensions, and readjustment benefits, and it orders reviews and reports to address the funding shortfall and find cost‑saving options. The bill mainly affects veterans receiving benefits and the VA’s budgeting process.

Key Provisions

Appropriates an additional $2.2855 billion for VA Compensation and Pensions and $596.97 million for Readjustment Benefits for FY 2024, on top of existing appropriations, with the funds available only for that fiscal year unless otherwise specified.
Requires the Government Accountability Office to review the reasons for the FY 2024 benefits funding shortfall and suggest remedies, to be completed within 30 days of enactment.
Directs the Office of Management and Budget to submit a revised FY 2025 VA budget to the relevant congressional committees within 30 days of enactment.
Mandates the VA Secretary to report potential cost‑saving measures within the VA Central Office to the appropriate committees within 30 days of enactment.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Appropriations Committee

September 9, 2024

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 9, 2024

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Appropriations Committee

September 9, 2024

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued September 9, 2024

II

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4997

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 9, 2024

Mr. Brown (for himself, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Tester, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Moran, and Ms. Collins) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations

A BILL

Making supplemental appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.

That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes, namely:

101.

(a)

For an additional amount for fiscal year 2024, there is hereby appropriated on the date of enactment of this Act, for Department of Veterans Affairs—Veterans Benefits Administration—Compensation and Pensions, $2,285,513,000, to remain available until expended.

(b)

For an additional amount for fiscal year 2024, there is hereby appropriated on the date of enactment of this Act, for Department of Veterans Affairs—Veterans Benefits Administration—Readjustment Benefits, $596,969,000, to remain available until expended.

(c)

Each amount appropriated or made available in this section is in addition to amounts otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year involved.

(d)

No part of any appropriation contained in this section shall remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.

(e)

Unless otherwise provided for by this section, the additional amounts appropriated by this section to appropriations accounts shall be available under the authorities and conditions applicable to such appropriations accounts for fiscal year 2024.

102.

(a)

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Government Accountability Office shall initiate a review of the circumstances surrounding and causes of the shortfall in the Veterans Benefits Administration funding in fiscal year 2024 and possible remedies the Department may take in the future to improve annual budget submissions and prevent shortfalls.

(b)

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress revision of the budget submitted under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2025.

(c)

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report identifying potential cost savings measures within the Central Office of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(d)

In this section, the term appropriate committees of Congress means the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

This Act may be cited as the Veterans Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024.