Attempts to Soften Sequester Are Focus of Action on First Spending Bill.

The article reports on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee's approval of the fiscal 2014 Military Construction spending bill on May 21, 2013. The bill provides 73.3 billion dollars for discretionary spending, largely for the health benefits of veterans. An amendment that would have replaced 150 billion dollars in cuts from sequestration with more than 182 billion dollars in tax increases and spending cuts was rejected by the panel.