H. R. 5371—115
any such transfer: Provided further, That amounts may be trans-
ferred pursuant to this section only upon written notification from 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on Appropria-
tions of both Houses of Congress of the amount and purpose of 
the transfer: Provided further, That the transfer authority provided 
in this section is in addition to any other transfer authority provided 
by law. 
SEC. 203. Appropriations available in this title for salaries 
and expenses shall be available for services authorized by section 
3109 of title 5, United States Code; hire of passenger motor vehicles; 
lease of a facility or land or both; and uniforms or allowances 
therefore, as authorized by sections 5901 through 5902 of title 
5, United States Code. 
SEC. 204. No appropriations in this title (except the appropria-
tions for ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ and ‘‘Construction, Minor 
Projects’’) shall be available for the purchase of any site for or 
toward the construction of any new hospital or home. 
SEC. 205. No appropriations in this title shall be available 
for hospitalization or examination of any persons (except bene-
ficiaries entitled to such hospitalization or examination under the 
laws providing such benefits to veterans, and persons receiving 
such treatment under sections 7901 through 7904 of title 5, United 
States Code, or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)), unless reimburse-
ment of the cost of such hospitalization or examination is made 
to the ‘‘Medical Services’’ account at such rates as may be fixed 
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
SEC. 206. Appropriations available in this title for ‘‘Compensa-
tion and Pensions’’, ‘‘Readjustment Benefits’’, and ‘‘Veterans Insur-
ance and Indemnities’’ shall be available for payment of prior year 
accrued obligations required to be recorded by law against the 
corresponding prior year accounts within the last quarter of fiscal 
year 2025. 
SEC. 207. Appropriations available in this title shall be available 
to pay prior year obligations of corresponding prior year appropria-
tions accounts resulting from sections 3328(a), 3334, and 3712(a) 
of title 31, United States Code, except that if such obligations 
are from trust fund accounts they shall be payable only from ‘‘Com-
pensation and Pensions’’. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 208. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during 
fiscal year 2026, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, from the 
National Service Life Insurance Fund under section 1920 of title 
38, United States Code, the Veterans’ Special Life Insurance Fund 
under section 1923 of title 38, United States Code, and the United 
States Government Life Insurance Fund under section 1955 of 
title 38, United States Code, reimburse the ‘‘General Operating 
Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’ and ‘‘Information 
Technology Systems’’ accounts for the cost of administration of 
the insurance programs financed through those accounts: Provided, 
That reimbursement shall be made only from the surplus earnings 
accumulated in such an insurance program during fiscal year 2026 
that are available for dividends in that program after claims have 
been paid and actuarially determined reserves have been set aside: 
Provided further, That if the cost of administration of such an
H. R. 5371—116
insurance program exceeds the amount of surplus earnings accumu-
lated in that program, reimbursement shall be made only to the 
extent of such surplus earnings: Provided further, That the Sec-
retary shall determine the cost of administration for fiscal year 
2026 which is properly allocable to the provision of each such 
insurance program and to the provision of any total disability 
income insurance included in that insurance program. 
SEC. 209. Amounts deducted from enhanced-use lease proceeds 
to reimburse an account for expenses incurred by that account 
during a prior fiscal year for providing enhanced-use lease services 
shall be available until expended. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 210. Funds available in this title or funds for salaries 
and other administrative expenses shall also be available to 
reimburse the Office of Resolution Management, the Office of 
Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, and the Alter-
native Dispute Resolution function within the Office of Human 
Resources and Administration for all services provided at rates 
which will recover actual costs but not to exceed $134,342,000 
for the Office of Resolution Management, $7,607,000 for the Office 
of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, and 
$7,586,000 for the Alternative Dispute Resolution function within 
the Office of Human Resources and Administration: Provided, That 
payments may be made in advance for services to be furnished 
based on estimated costs: Provided further, That amounts received 
shall be credited to the ‘‘General Administration’’ and ‘‘Information 
Technology Systems’’ accounts for use by the office that provided 
the service. 
SEC. 211. No funds of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
shall be available for hospital care, nursing home care, or medical 
services provided to any person under chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, for a non-service-connected disability described in sec-
tion 1729(a)(2) of such title, unless that person has disclosed to 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in such form as the Secretary 
may require, current, accurate third-party reimbursement informa-
tion for purposes of section 1729 of such title: Provided, That 
the Secretary may recover, in the same manner as any other debt 
due the United States, the reasonable charges for such care or 
services from any person who does not make such disclosure as 
required: Provided further, That any amounts so recovered for care 
or services provided in a prior fiscal year may be obligated by 
the Secretary during the fiscal year in which amounts are received. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 212. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, proceeds 
or revenues derived from enhanced-use leasing activities (including 
disposal) may be deposited into the ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ 
and ‘‘Construction, Minor Projects’’ accounts and be used for 
construction (including site acquisition and disposition), alterations, 
and improvements of any medical facility under the jurisdiction 
or for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such sums 
as realized are in addition to the amount provided for in ‘‘Construc-
tion, Major Projects’’ and ‘‘Construction, Minor Projects’’. 
SEC. 213. Amounts made available under ‘‘Medical Services’’ 
are available—
H. R. 5371—117
(1) for furnishing recreational facilities, supplies, and equip-
ment; and 
(2) for funeral expenses, burial expenses, and other 
expenses incidental to funerals and burials for beneficiaries 
receiving care in the Department. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 214. Such sums as may be deposited into the Medical 
Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38, United 
States Code, may be transferred to the ‘‘Medical Services’’ and 
‘‘Medical Community Care’’ accounts to remain available until 
expended for the purposes of these accounts. 
SEC. 215. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into 
agreements with Federally Qualified Health Centers in the State 
of Alaska and Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations which are 
party to the Alaska Native Health Compact with the Indian Health 
Service, to provide healthcare, including behavioral health and 
dental care, to veterans in rural Alaska. The Secretary shall require 
participating veterans and facilities to comply with all appropriate 
rules and regulations, as established by the Secretary. The term 
‘‘rural Alaska’’ shall mean those lands which are not within the 
boundaries of the municipality of Anchorage or the Fairbanks North 
Star Borough. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 216. Such sums as may be deposited into the Department 
of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund pursuant to section 8118 
of title 38, United States Code, may be transferred to the ‘‘Construc-
tion, Major Projects’’ and ‘‘Construction, Minor Projects’’ accounts, 
to remain available until expended for the purposes of these 
accounts. 
SEC. 217. Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal 
quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a report 
on the financial status of the Department of Veterans Affairs for 
the preceding quarter: Provided, That, at a minimum, the report 
shall include the direction contained in the paragraph entitled 
‘‘Quarterly reporting’’, under the heading ‘‘General Administration’’ 
in the joint explanatory statement accompanying Public Law 114–
223. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 218. Amounts made available under the ‘‘Medical Serv-
ices’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support and Compli-
ance’’, ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, ‘‘General Operating Expenses, Veterans 
Benefits Administration’’, ‘‘Board of Veterans Appeals’’, ‘‘General 
Administration’’, and ‘‘National Cemetery Administration’’ accounts 
for fiscal year 2026 may be transferred to or from the ‘‘Information 
Technology Systems’’ account: Provided, That such transfers may 
not result in a more than 10 percent aggregate increase in the 
total amount made available by this Act for the ‘‘Information Tech-
nology Systems’’ account: Provided further, That, before a transfer 
may take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request 
from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 
the authority to make the transfer and an approval is issued.
H. R. 5371—118
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 219. Of the amounts appropriated to the Department 
of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2026 for ‘‘Medical Services’’, 
‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’, 
‘‘Medical Facilities’’, ‘‘Construction, Minor Projects’’, and ‘‘Informa-
tion Technology Systems’’, up to $654,954,000, plus reimbursements, 
may be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense—Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, 
established by section 1704 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 2571) 
and may be used for operation of the facilities designated as com-
bined Federal medical facilities as described by section 706 of the 
Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500): Provided, That addi-
tional funds may be transferred from accounts designated in this 
section to the Joint Department of Defense—Department of Vet-
erans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund upon written 
notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees 
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress: Provided further, 
That section 220 of title II of division A of Public Law 118–42, 
as continued by section 1101(a)(10) of division A of Public Law 
119–4, is repealed. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 220. Of the amounts appropriated to the Department 
of Veterans Affairs which become available on October 1, 2026, 
for ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical Sup-
port and Compliance’’, and ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, up to $739,918,000, 
plus reimbursements, may be transferred to the Joint Department 
of Defense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Dem-
onstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–
84; 123 Stat. 2571) and may be used for operation of the facilities 
designated as combined Federal medical facilities as described by 
section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500): 
Provided, That additional funds may be transferred from accounts 
designated in this section to the Joint Department of Defense—
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration 
Fund upon written notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 221. Such sums as may be deposited into the Medical 
Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38, United 
States Code, for healthcare provided at facilities designated as 
combined Federal medical facilities as described by section 706 
of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500) shall also be 
available: (1) for transfer to the Joint Department of Defense—
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration 
Fund, established by section 1704 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 123 
Stat. 2571); and (2) for operations of the facilities designated as 
combined Federal medical facilities as described by section 706
H. R. 5371—119
of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500): Provided, That, 
notwithstanding section 1704(b)(3) of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 123 
Stat. 2573), amounts transferred to the Joint Department of 
Defense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Dem-
onstration Fund shall remain available until expended. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 222. Of the amounts available in this title for ‘‘Medical 
Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support and 
Compliance’’, and ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, a minimum of $15,000,000 
shall be transferred to the DOD–VA Health Care Sharing Incentive 
Fund, as authorized by section 8111(d) of title 38, United States 
Code, to remain available until expended, for any purpose author-
ized by section 8111 of title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 223. None of the funds available to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, in this or any other Act, may be used to replace 
the current system by which the Veterans Integrated Service Net-
works select and contract for diabetes monitoring supplies and 
equipment. 
SEC. 224. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall notify the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of all 
bid savings in a major construction project that total at least 
$5,000,000, or 5 percent of the programmed amount of the project, 
whichever is less: Provided, That such notification shall occur within 
14 days of a contract identifying the programmed amount: Provided 
further, That the Secretary shall notify the Committees on Appro-
priations of both Houses of Congress 14 days prior to the obligation 
of such bid savings and shall describe the anticipated use of such 
savings. 
SEC. 225. None of the funds made available for ‘‘Construction, 
Major Projects’’ may be used for a project in excess of the scope 
specified for that project in the original justification data provided 
to the Congress as part of the request for appropriations unless 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs receives approval from the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 
SEC. 226. Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal 
quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a quar-
terly report containing performance measures and data from each 
Veterans Benefits Administration Regional Office: Provided, That, 
at a minimum, the report shall include the direction contained 
in the section entitled ‘‘Disability claims backlog’’, under the heading 
‘‘General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’ 
in the joint explanatory statement accompanying Public Law 114–
223: Provided further, That the report shall also include information 
on the number of appeals pending at the Veterans Benefits Adminis-
tration as well as the Board of Veterans Appeals on a quarterly 
basis. 
SEC. 227. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide writ-
ten notification to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 
of Congress 15 days prior to organizational changes which result 
in the transfer of 25 or more full-time equivalents from one 
organizational unit of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
another.
H. R. 5371—120
SEC. 228. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide on 
a quarterly basis to the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress notification of any single national outreach 
and awareness marketing campaign in which obligations exceed 
$1,000,000. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 229. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, upon determination 
that such action is necessary to address needs of the Veterans 
Health Administration, may transfer to the ‘‘Medical Services’’ 
account not to exceed 1 percent of any discretionary appropriations 
made available for fiscal year 2026 in this title (except the appro-
priation made to the ‘‘General Operating Expenses, Veterans Bene-
fits Administration’’ account) or not to exceed 1 percent of any 
discretionary unobligated balances within the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs, including not to exceed 1 percent of those appro-
priated for fiscal year 2026, that were provided in advance by 
appropriations Acts: Provided, That the transfer authority provided 
in this section is in addition to any other transfer authority provided 
by law: Provided further, That no amounts may be transferred 
from amounts that were designated by Congress as an emergency 
requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget 
or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
1985: Provided further, That such authority to transfer may not 
be used unless for higher priority items, based on emergent 
healthcare requirements, than those for which originally appro-
priated and in no case where the item for which funds are requested 
has been denied by Congress: Provided further, That, upon deter-
mination that all or part of the funds transferred from an appropria-
tion are not necessary, such amounts may be transferred back 
to that appropriation and shall be available for the same purposes 
as originally appropriated: Provided further, That before a transfer 
may take place pursuant to this section, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs must provide written notification of the amount and purpose 
of the transfer to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 
of Congress. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 230. Amounts made available for the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs for fiscal year 2026, under the ‘‘Board of Veterans 
Appeals’’ and the ‘‘General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits 
Administration’’ accounts may be transferred between such 
accounts: Provided, That before a transfer may take place, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees 
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to 
make the transfer and receive approval of that request. 
SEC. 231. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not reprogram 
funds among major construction projects or programs if such 
instance of reprogramming will exceed a cumulative $7,000,000, 
unless such reprogramming is approved by the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 
SEC. 232. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure 
that the toll-free suicide hotline under section 1720F(h) of title 
38, United States Code—
(1) provides to individuals who contact the hotline imme-
diate assistance from a trained professional; and
H. R. 5371—121
(2) adheres to all requirements of the American Association 
of Suicidology. 
(b)(1) None of the funds made available by this Act may be 
used to enforce or otherwise carry out any Executive action that 
prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from appointing an 
individual to occupy a vacant civil service position, or establishing 
a new civil service position, at the Department of Veterans Affairs 
with respect to such a position relating to the hotline specified 
in subsection (a). 
(2) In this subsection—
(A) the term ‘‘civil service’’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 2101(1) of title 5, United States Code; and 
(B) the term ‘‘Executive action’’ includes—
(i) any Executive order, Presidential memorandum, or 
other action by the President; and 
(ii) any agency policy, order, or other directive. 
(c)(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study 
on the effectiveness of the hotline specified in subsection (a) during 
the 5-year period beginning on January 1, 2016, based on an anal-
ysis of national suicide data and data collected from such hotline. 
(2) At a minimum, the study required by paragraph (1) shall—
(A) determine the number of veterans who contact the 
hotline specified in subsection (a) and who receive follow up 
services from the hotline or mental health services from the 
Department of Veterans Affairs thereafter; 
(B) determine the number of veterans who contact the 
hotline who are not referred to, or do not continue receiving, 
mental health care who commit suicide; and 
(C) determine the number of veterans described in subpara-
graph (A) who commit or attempt suicide. 
SEC. 233. Effective during the period beginning on October 
1, 2018, and ending on January 1, 2027, none of the funds made 
available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by this or any other 
Act may be obligated or expended in contravention of the ‘‘Veterans 
Health Administration Clinical Preventive Services Guidance State-
ment on the Veterans Health Administration’s Screening for Breast 
Cancer Guidance’’ published on May 10, 2017, as issued by the 
Veterans Health Administration National Center for Health Pro-
motion and Disease Prevention. 
SEC. 234. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs for the ‘‘Medical Services’’ account may 
be used to provide—
(1) fertility counseling and treatment using assisted repro-
ductive technology to a covered veteran or the spouse of a 
covered veteran; or 
(2) adoption reimbursement to a covered veteran. 
(b) In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘service-connected’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered veteran’’ means a veteran, as such 
term is defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code, 
who has a service-connected disability that results in the 
inability of the veteran to procreate without the use of fertility 
treatment. 
(3) The term ‘‘assisted reproductive technology’’ means 
benefits relating to reproductive assistance provided to a
H. R. 5371—122
member of the Armed Forces who incurs a serious injury or 
illness on active duty pursuant to section 1074(c)(4)(A) of title 
10, United States Code, as described in the memorandum on 
the subject of ‘‘Policy for Assisted Reproductive Services for 
the Benefit of Seriously or Severely Ill/Injured (Category II 
or III) Active Duty Service Members’’ issued by the Assistant 
Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs on April 3, 2012, and 
the guidance issued to implement such policy, including any 
limitations on the amount of such benefits available to such 
a member except that—
(A) the time periods regarding embryo cryopreservation 
and storage set forth in part III(G) and in part IV(H) 
of such memorandum shall not apply; and 
(B) such term includes embryo cryopreservation and 
storage without limitation on the duration of such 
cryopreservation and storage. 
(4) The term ‘‘adoption reimbursement’’ means reimburse-
ment for the adoption-related expenses for an adoption that 
is finalized after the date of the enactment of this Act under 
the same terms as apply under the adoption reimbursement 
program of the Department of Defense, as authorized in Depart-
ment of Defense Instruction 1341.09, including the reimburse-
ment limits and requirements set forth in such instruction. 
(c) Amounts made available for the purposes specified in sub-
section (a) of this section are subject to the requirements for funds 
contained in section 508 of division H of the Consolidated Appropria-
tions Act, 2018 (Public Law 115–141). 
SEC. 235. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act or any other Act for the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs may be used in a manner that is inconsistent with: 
(1) section 842 of the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban 
Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Inde-
pendent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109–115; 
119 Stat. 2506); or (2) section 8110(a)(5) of title 38, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 236. Section 842 of Public Law 109–115 shall not apply 
to conversion of an activity or function of the Veterans Health 
Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, or National 
Cemetery Administration to contractor performance by a business 
concern that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more Indian 
Tribes as defined in section 5304(e) of title 25, United States Code, 
or one or more Native Hawaiian Organizations as defined in section 
637(a)(15) of title 15, United States Code. 
SEC. 237. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor, shall 
discontinue collecting and using Social Security account numbers 
to authenticate individuals in all information systems of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs for all individuals not later than Sep-
tember 30, 2026. 
(b) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may collect and use a 
Social Security account number to identify an individual, in accord-
ance with section 552a of title 5, United States Code, in an informa-
tion system of the Department of Veterans Affairs if and only 
if the use of such number is necessary to: 
(1) obtain or provide information the Secretary requires 
from an information system that is not under the jurisdiction 
of the Secretary;
H. R. 5371—123
(2) comply with a law, regulation, or court order; 
(3) perform anti-fraud activities; or 
(4) identify a specific individual where no adequate sub-
stitute is available. 
(c) The matter in subsections (a) and (b) shall supersede section 
237 of division A of Public Law 118–42. 
SEC. 238. For funds provided to the Department of Veterans 
Affairs for each of fiscal year 2026 and 2027 for ‘‘Medical Services’’, 
section 239 of division A of Public Law 114–223 shall apply. 
SEC. 239. None of the funds appropriated in this or prior 
appropriations Acts or otherwise made available to the Department 
of Veterans Affairs may be used to transfer any amounts from 
the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund to any other 
account within the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
SEC. 240. Of the funds provided to the Department of Veterans 
Affairs for each of fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2027 for ‘‘Medical 
Services’’, funds may be used in each year to carry out and expand 
the child care program authorized by section 205 of Public Law 
111–163, notwithstanding subsection (e) of such section. 
SEC. 241. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available in this title may be used by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to enter into an agreement related to resolving a dispute 
or claim with an individual that would restrict in any way the 
individual from speaking to Members of Congress or their staff 
on any topic not otherwise prohibited from disclosure by Federal 
law or required by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest 
of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs. 
SEC. 242. For funds provided to the Department of Veterans 
Affairs for each of fiscal year 2026 and 2027, section 258 of division 
A of Public Law 114–223 shall apply. 
SEC. 243. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
made available by this Act may be used to deny an Inspector 
General funded under this Act timely access to any records, docu-
ments, or other materials available to the department or agency 
over which that Inspector General has responsibilities under the 
Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), or to prevent 
or impede the access of the Inspector General to such records, 
documents, or other materials, under any provision of law, except 
a provision of law that expressly refers to such Inspector General 
and expressly limits the right of access. 
(b) A department or agency covered by this section shall provide 
its Inspector General access to all records, documents, and other 
materials in a timely manner. 
(c) Each Inspector General shall ensure compliance with statu-
tory limitations on disclosure relevant to the information provided 
by the establishment over which that Inspector General has respon-
sibilities under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 401 
et seq.). 
(d) Each Inspector General covered by this section shall report 
to the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives within 
5 calendar days of any failure by any department or agency covered 
by this section to comply with this requirement. 
SEC. 244. None of the funds made available in this Act may 
be used in a manner that would increase wait times for veterans 
who seek care at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs.