Committee Releases FY26 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill. The bill will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow, June 5th at 10:00 a.m. The markup will be live-streamed and can be found on the Committee’s website.
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman John Carter said, “This bill is a testament to our unwavering commitment to those who wear the uniform and to the veterans who have served our nation honorably. We’re not just talking about supporting our military and veterans — this bill does it. This legislation invests in the health and well-being of our veterans, including focusing on mental health and homelessness assistance. It also prioritizes quality housing, reliable childcare, and other critical infrastructure for our servicemembers and their families. Additionally, this bill sends a clear message that we take our national security in the Pacific seriously and will make the investments needed to keep America safe and deter aggression. I look forward to seeing this bill move forward through the committee process, and I appreciate Chairman Cole’s steadfast leadership in getting it done.”
Chairman Tom Cole said, “Among America’s greatest strengths are the men and women who answer the call to serve without hesitation. We have a duty to support our veterans, those in uniform, and the loved ones who help carry the weight of service to our nation. This FY26 bill helps us keep that sacred promise while prioritizing military readiness. It fully funds veteran health care and benefits and makes key investments in the quality-of-life issues that matter most — childcare, parental resources, housing, and infrastructure — recognizing that supporting military families is essential to sustaining a strong, ready force. As the first bill of the season, we’re starting strong. I thank Chairman Carter for leading legislation that honors our veterans, resources our troops, and reinforces our base posture.”
The Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill
The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $152.091 billion, which is nearly $5 billion (3%) above the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level. The bill reflects priorities of the President’s Budget Request and America First agenda by including critical investments in military infrastructure that support readiness and the military families that utilize them. In addition, the bill provides $300 billion for mandatory programs, for a total of $453 billion in overall funding.
In summary, the bill supports those who have sacrificed for our country and maintains our commitment to the well-being of both service members and veterans.
Key Takeaways
Champions our veterans by:
- Fully funding veterans’ health care programs.
- Fully funding veterans’ benefits and VA programs.
- Supporting President Trump’s efforts to combat veteran homelessness by investing in the new Bridging Rental Assistance for Veteran Empowerment program.
- Maintaining funding levels for research, mental health programs and other programs relied upon by veterans.
Supports the Trump Administration and the mandate of the American people by:
- Protecting the 2nd Amendment rights of veterans, preventing the VA from sending information to the FBI about veterans without a judge’s consent.
- Syncing up with President Trump’s Executive Orders on no funds for DEI, gender affirming care, and protecting Hyde-like language at the VA.
- Prohibiting the VA from processing medical care claims for illegal aliens.
Bolsters U.S. national security and border protections by:
- Providing robust funding for military construction, enabling continued investment in the Indo-Pacific region and infrastructure necessary to support United States advanced weapons systems.
- Maintaining the prohibitions on the closure of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and the use of military construction funds to build facilities for detainees on U.S. soil.
- Prohibiting the VA from purchasing resources directly or indirectly from the People’s Republic of China.
A summary of the bill is available here.
Bill text is available here.
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