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 · 2025-06-05 · 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 at0:14:58

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 funding0:15:56, $180 billion in infrastructure investment0:16:50, and noted over 3,000 member requests were considered0:17:45; later presided over the recorded vote and adjournment0:49:580:52:32.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Ranking Member0:18:40: Said the bill increases community care funding by 67% while VA trust hit a record 92% under the Biden administration0:20:53; criticized the lack of guaranteed PACT Act toxic exposure fund advance funding0:21:47, a $94 million military construction shortfall versus the president's request0:23:56, zero dedicated climate-resilience funding despite eight vulnerable Florida bases0:24:23, and riders restricting abortion counseling0:24:53 and NICS firearm reporting0:25:37; announced she would oppose the bill0:26:37.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), Chairman of Full Committee0:27:07: Commended the subcommittee's work, expressed full support for the bill, and noted the bill "will look different" by the time it reaches the floor0:27:33.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Ranking Member of Full Committee0:28:43: Argued the administration has illegally withheld appropriated funds0:29:30; cited West Haven VA Medical Center staff, including nurse Renee Luno Sheeki, describing strained conditions amid resignation pressure0:30:280:30:53; said the bill underfunds military construction by nearly $1 billion and NATO infrastructure by almost $200 million0:32:070:35:03, and quoted former Defense Secretary Mattis on climate-change risk to military assets0:33:09.

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 system0:36:58; criticized the absence of PACT Act advance funding0:37:29 and the abortion-services restriction on women veterans0:37:53; announced opposition to the bill0:40:17.

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 care0:41:13; cited Project 2025's page 645 privatization plan and VA's proposed firing of up to 80,000 workers, roughly a quarter of them veterans0:41:370:42:06; cited a Politico/Morning Consult poll showing 86% of Democrats, 78% of Republicans, and 76% of independents support modernizing VA hospitals0:43:03.

Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX)0:44:01: Said she represents El Paso's Fort Bliss and over 50,000 veterans0:44:24; described local federal employees affected by mass firings0:44:54; 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 clinic0:48:230:48:40; announced she could not support the bill0:49:10.

Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL)0:49:58: Moved that the bill be favorably reported to the full committee0:49:58.

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 requests0:15:560:16:270:17:45.

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 20250:20:530:21:17.

Wasserman Schultz and DeLauro both said the bill omits guaranteed advance funding for the PACT Act toxic exposure fund, unlike the prior year's bill0:21:470:34:08.

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 annually0:25:370:26:08.

DeLauro cited testimony from West Haven VA Medical Center nurse Renee Luno Sheeki describing being unable to take lunch or breaks amid staffing strain0:30:530:31:12.

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 veterans0:41:370:42:06.

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 restriction0:48:230:48:40.

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 assets0:32:070:35:030:33:09.

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 objection0:24:530:37:530:47:35.

The bill passed by recorded vote, nine ayes to six noes, and was favorably reported to the full committee0:51:51.

Metadata

CommitteeHouse Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Chamber / CongressHouse · 119th Congress
Date2025-06-05
TypeMarkup
Witnesses
(none listed in event metadata)
Videoyoutube
Transcript86 caption blocks · 5,649 words · 0:52:52 runtime
EventCongress.gov 118354