The Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill

Appropriations Bill MarkupsHouse Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies · June 5, 2025 · 119th Congress
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies met to mark up its fiscal year 2026 funding bill, which provides just over $134 billion in non-defense discretionary funding, $300 billion in mandatory funding, and $180 billion in infrastructure investment. Begins at ▶ 0:14:58
Transcript
Highlights

Title

Subcommittee Advances FY2026 Military Construction and VA Appropriations Bill

Purpose

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies met to mark up its fiscal year 2026 funding bill, which provides just over $134 billion in non-defense discretionary funding, $300 billion in mandatory funding, and $180 billion in infrastructure investment. Chairman Carter presented the bill while Democratic members raised objections over community care funding levels, missing PACT Act advance funding, firearm-reporting restrictions, an abortion-services rider, and military construction shortfalls; the bill was ultimately approved on a party-line recorded vote and reported favorably to the full committee. Begins at▶ 0:14:58

Who spoke

• Chairman John Carter (R-TX)▶ 0:14:58: Opened the markup, describing the bill's $134 billion non-defense discretionary total and $300 billion in mandatory funding▶ 0:15:56, $180 billion in infrastructure investment▶ 0:16:50, and noted over 3,000 member requests were considered▶ 0:17:45; later presided over the recorded vote and adjournment▶ 0:49:58▶ 0:52:32.

• Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Ranking Member▶ 0:18:40: Said the bill increases community care funding by 67% while VA trust hit a record 92% under the Biden administration▶ 0:20:53; criticized the lack of guaranteed PACT Act toxic exposure fund advance funding▶ 0:21:47, a $94 million military construction shortfall versus the president's request▶ 0:23:56, zero dedicated climate-resilience funding despite eight vulnerable Florida bases▶ 0:24:23, and riders restricting abortion counseling▶ 0:24:53 and NICS firearm reporting▶ 0:25:37; announced she would oppose the bill▶ 0:26:37.

• Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), Chairman of Full Committee▶ 0:27:07: Commended the subcommittee's work, expressed full support for the bill, and noted the bill "will look different" by the time it reaches the floor▶ 0:27:33.

• Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Ranking Member of Full Committee▶ 0:28:43: Argued the administration has illegally withheld appropriated funds▶ 0:29:30; cited West Haven VA Medical Center staff, including nurse Renee Luno Sheeki, describing strained conditions amid resignation pressure▶ 0:30:28▶ 0:30:53; said the bill underfunds military construction by nearly $1 billion and NATO infrastructure by almost $200 million▶ 0:32:07▶ 0:35:03, and quoted former Defense Secretary Mattis on climate-change risk to military assets▶ 0:33:09.

• A committee member (referred to as "Mr. 11")▶ 0:36:34: Said the bill prevents VA from reporting at-risk veterans' mental health status to the NICS background-check system▶ 0:36:58; criticized the absence of PACT Act advance funding▶ 0:37:29 and the abortion-services restriction on women veterans▶ 0:37:53; announced opposition to the bill▶ 0:40:17.

• A committee member (Camp Pendleton-area representative, prior HVAC member)▶ 0:40:17: Said he could not support the bill, citing a shift of funding toward community care▶ 0:41:13; cited Project 2025's page 645 privatization plan and VA's proposed firing of up to 80,000 workers, roughly a quarter of them veterans▶ 0:41:37▶ 0:42:06; cited a Politico/Morning Consult poll showing 86% of Democrats, 78% of Republicans, and 76% of independents support modernizing VA hospitals▶ 0:43:03.

• Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX)▶ 0:44:01: Said she represents El Paso's Fort Bliss and over 50,000 veterans▶ 0:44:24; described local federal employees affected by mass firings▶ 0:44:54; cited two local veteran suicides involving firearms, including one at the El Paso VA parking lot in January 2023 and one recently at the Mallen VA clinic▶ 0:48:23▶ 0:48:40; announced she could not support the bill▶ 0:49:10.

• Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL)▶ 0:49:58: Moved that the bill be favorably reported to the full committee▶ 0:49:58.

Key moments

• Chairman Carter said the bill provides $134 billion in non-defense discretionary funding, $300 billion in mandatory funding, and $180 billion in infrastructure investment, drawn from over 3,000 member requests▶ 0:15:56▶ 0:16:27▶ 0:17:45.

• Wasserman Schultz said the bill increases community care funding by 67% even as VA trust reached a record 92% in 2024, and warned it advances "VA privatization" consistent with Project 2025▶ 0:20:53▶ 0:21:17.

• Wasserman Schultz and DeLauro both said the bill omits guaranteed advance funding for the PACT Act toxic exposure fund, unlike the prior year's bill▶ 0:21:47▶ 0:34:08.

• Multiple Democratic members objected that the bill bars the VA from reporting at-risk veterans to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which Wasserman Schultz linked to roughly 4,600 veteran firearm suicides annually▶ 0:25:37▶ 0:26:08.

• DeLauro cited testimony from West Haven VA Medical Center nurse Renee Luno Sheeki describing being unable to take lunch or breaks amid staffing strain▶ 0:30:53▶ 0:31:12.

• A member cited Project 2025's page 645 as outlining a VA privatization plan, and said VA plans to fire up to 80,000 workers, about a quarter of them veterans▶ 0:41:37▶ 0:42:06.

• Escobar described two local veteran suicides involving firearms — one in the El Paso VA parking lot in January 2023 and one recently at the Mallen VA clinic — to argue against the bill's NICS-reporting restriction▶ 0:48:23▶ 0:48:40.

• DeLauro said the bill underfunds military construction by nearly $1 billion and NATO infrastructure by almost $200 million, and quoted former Secretary Mattis on climate risk to defense assets▶ 0:32:07▶ 0:35:03▶ 0:33:09.

• The bill includes a policy rider blocking VA's interim final rule on abortion counseling and services, which several Democratic members cited as their primary objection▶ 0:24:53▶ 0:37:53▶ 0:47:35.

• The bill passed by recorded vote, nine ayes to six noes, and was favorably reported to the full committee▶ 0:51:51.

Metadata

CommitteeHouse Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Chamber / CongressHouse · 119th Congress
DateJune 5, 2025
TypeMarkup
Witnesses
(none listed in event metadata)
Videoyoutube
Transcript86 caption blocks · 5,649 words · 0:52:52 runtime
EventCongress.gov 118354