Both House and Senate lawmakers earlier this year backed major changes in how serious crimes are prosecuted, but the proposal still faces hurdles to becoming law.
Provisions in the budget bill would extend mental health care and medical screenings to veterans currently ineligible for the treatment on a long-term basis.
Officials estimate tens of thousands of veterans with other-than-honorable discharges may eligible for a change in status and a host of veterans benefits.
Veterans groups on Monday forcefully rejected the views of neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups following reports that the Charlottesville extremist who drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters briefly served in the military.