213 
† HR 5371 EAS 
LIMITATION ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS OR VIDEO 
SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT PROCUREMENT 
SEC. 208. (a) None of the funds appropriated or other-
wise made available under this Act may be used to acquire 
telecommunications or video surveillance equipment pro-
duced by— 
(1) Huawei Technologies Company, ZTE Cor-
poration, 
Hytera 
Communications 
Corporation, 
Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or 
Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or 
affiliate of such entities); or 
(2) any entity that the Secretary of Defense, in 
consultation with the Director of the National Intel-
ligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Inves-
tigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned or 
controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the govern-
ment of a foreign adversary. 
(b) The term ‘‘foreign adversary’’ has the meaning 
given the term ‘‘covered nation’’ in section 4872(f) of title 
10, United States Code. 
PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN OPERATIONAL EXPENSES 
SEC. 209. (a) None of the funds made available in this 
Act may be used to maintain or establish a computer net-
work unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, 
and exchanging of pornography.
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† HR 5371 EAS 
(b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of 
funds necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law 
enforcement agency or any other entity carrying out crimi-
nal investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities or 
other official government activities. 
LIMITATION ON COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS FOR 
MEMBERS 
SEC. 210. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
no adjustment shall be made under section 601(a) of the 
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4501) (re-
lating to cost of living adjustments for Members of Con-
gress) during fiscal year 2026. 
EXTENSION OF PUMP ACT PROTECTIONS TO 
CONGRESSIONAL STAFF 
SEC. 211. Section 203(a)(1) of the Congressional Ac-
countability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1313(a)(1)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and section 12(c)’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 12(c), and section 18D’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘, 218d’’ after ‘‘212(c)’’. 
MEMBER PROTECTION 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 212. (a) For an additional amount for ‘‘SEN-
ATE—CONTINGENT EXPENSES
OF
THE SENATE—SEN-
ATORS’ OFFICIAL PERSONNEL AND OFFICE EXPENSE AC-
215 
† HR 5371 EAS 
COUNT’’, $75,000,000, which shall be allocated to each per-
sonal office in an equal amount, for payments for security 
enhancements and services under section 4 of Senate Reso-
lution 294 (96th Congress), agreed to April 29, 1980, as 
amended by S. Res. 413 (119th Congress), agreed to Sep-
tember 18, 2025: Provided, That unobligated balances of 
funds appropriated pursuant to this subsection at the end 
of fiscal year 2026 not needed for fiscal year 2026 shall 
be transferred to ‘‘SENATE—CONTINGENT EXPENSES OF 
THE SENATE—MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS’’, and shall remain 
available until expended, for the purposes of such account, 
in addition to amounts otherwise available for such pur-
poses: Provided further, That such transfer authority is in 
addition to any other transfer authority provided by law: 
Provided further, That amounts transferred pursuant to 
this subsection may not be obligated without the prior ap-
proval of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 
(b) For an additional amount for ‘‘SENATE—CON-
TINGENT EXPENSES OF THE SENATE—SERGEANT AT ARMS 
AND DOORKEEPER OF THE SENATE’’, $18,500,000, to re-
main available until expended, of which $5,000,000 shall 
be for coordination and support of Member security pro-
grams, $10,000,000 shall be for security-related activities 
for State offices, and $3,500,000 shall be for the residential 
security system program: Provided, That amounts made
216 
† HR 5371 EAS 
available pursuant to this subsection may be transferred to 
‘‘SENATE—SALARIES, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES—OF-
FICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS AND DOORKEEPER’’ and 
‘‘SENATE—CONTINGENT EXPENSES OF THE SENATE— 
SERGEANT AT ARMS BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND DISASTER 
RECOVERY FUND’’: Provided further, That the transfer au-
thority provided pursuant to the preceding proviso is in 
addition to any other transfer authority provided by law: 
Provided further, That of the amounts made available pur-
suant to this subsection, such sums as necessary may be 
used to restore amounts, either directly, through reimburse-
ment, or through the transfer authority in the first proviso, 
for obligations incurred for the same purposes by the Ser-
geant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate prior to the 
date of enactment of this Act: Provided further, That 
amounts made available pursuant to this subsection shall 
be allocated in accordance with a spending plan submitted 
to the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 
(c) For an additional amount for ‘‘SENATE—CON-
TINGENT EXPENSES
OF
THE SENATE—MISCELLANEOUS 
ITEMS’’, $10,000,000, to remain available until expended, 
which shall be for security, continuity and other purposes: 
Provided, That amounts made available pursuant to this 
subsection may not be obligated without the prior approval 
of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
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† HR 5371 EAS 
(d) None of the funds provided under the heading 
‘‘SENATE’’ in this or any prior Act that are used to pro-
vide personal protective services to a Senator shall result 
in the designation or deputization of individuals as agents 
of the Federal government. 
REQUIRING SENATE NOTIFICATION FOR DISCLOSURE OF 
SENATE DATA 
SEC. 213. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 10 of the Legisla-
tive Branch Appropriations Act, 2005 (2 U.S.C. 6628) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(3) 
through (7) as paragraphs (5) through (9), re-
spectively; 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (3); 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) the term ‘covered data’ means any electronic 
mail or other electronic or data communication, other 
data (including metadata), or other information;’’; 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (3), as so 
redesignated, the following: 
‘‘(4) the term ‘legal process’ does not include a 
subpoena issued in accordance with the Rules of Pro-
218 
† HR 5371 EAS 
cedure of the Select Committee on Ethics of the Sen-
ate;’’; 
(E) by striking paragraph (8), as so redes-
ignated, and inserting the following: 
‘‘(8) the term ‘Senate data’, with respect to a 
Senate office— 
‘‘(A) means covered data of the Senate of-
fice; and 
‘‘(B) with respect to an individual described 
in paragraph (9) acting in a personal capacity, 
only means covered data that is transmitted, 
processed, or stored through the use of an elec-
tronic system established, maintained, or oper-
ated, or the use of electronic services provided, 
by— 
‘‘(i) a provider for the Senate office, if 
the Senate office or the Office of the SAA 
has notified the provider for a Senate office 
that the applicable device or account is a 
device or account of the Senate office; or 
‘‘(ii) the Office of the SAA or an offi-
cer, employee, or agent of the Office of the 
SAA, if the Senate office has notified the 
Office of the SAA that the applicable device
219 
† HR 5371 EAS 
or account is a device or account of the Sen-
ate office;’’; 
(F) in paragraph (9), as so redesignated— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘(without regard to 
whether the Senator is acting in his or her 
official capacity, including acting in a per-
sonal capacity and acting through his or 
her campaign for elected office)’’ after ‘‘a 
Senator’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘(whether acting in 
his or her personal or official capacity)’’ 
after ‘‘an officer of the Senate’’; and 
(iii) by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘(whether acting in his or her 
personal or official capacity); and’’; and 
(G) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(10) the term ‘target of a criminal investiga-
tion’ means a person— 
‘‘(A) as to whom the prosecutor or the grand 
jury has substantial evidence linking that person 
to the commission of a crime; 
‘‘(B) who, in the judgment of the prosecutor, 
is a putative defendant; and 
‘‘(C) whom the prosecutor, before the date of 
the acquisition, subpoena, search, accessing, or
220 
† HR 5371 EAS 
disclosure of the Senate data at issue, has for-
mally designated as a target in official records, 
which shall not include any such designation 
that was made after such date that purports to 
be retroactive.’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (d) through (h) 
as subsections (e) through (i), respectively; and 
(3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(c) NOTIFICATION.— 
‘‘(1) BY PROVIDERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If any provider for a 
Senate office receives any legal process seeking 
disclosure of Senate data of the Senate office that 
is transmitted, processed, or stored (whether tem-
porarily or otherwise) through the use of an elec-
tronic system established, maintained, or oper-
ated, or the use of electronic services provided, in 
whole or in part, by the provider for a Senate 
office, the provider for a Senate office shall no-
tify the Senate office and, unless specified other-
wise by the Senate office, the Office of the SAA 
in writing. 
‘‘(B) NO LIMITATIONS ON NOTICE.—A pro-
vider for a Senate office shall not be barred from
221 
† HR 5371 EAS 
providing notice to a Senate office and the Office 
of the SAA under subparagraph (A) by operation 
of any court order, any statutory provision, any 
other provision of law, any rule of civil or crimi-
nal procedure, or any other rule, regulation, or 
policy. 
‘‘(C) LIMITATION
ON
LIABILITY.—A pro-
vider for a Senate office shall not be liable under 
any criminal or civil law for providing notice to 
a Senate office or the Office of the SAA under 
this paragraph. 
‘‘(2) BY SAA.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If the Office of the SAA 
or any officer, employee, or agent of the Office of 
the SAA receives any legal process seeking disclo-
sure of Senate data of a Senate office that is 
transmitted, processed, or stored (whether tempo-
rarily or otherwise) through the use of an elec-
tronic system established, maintained, or oper-
ated, or the use of electronic services provided, in 
whole or in part, by the Office of the SAA or the 
officer, employee, or agent of the Office of the 
SAA, the Office of the SAA or the officer, em-
ployee, or agent of the Office of the SAA shall no-
tify a Senate office in writing.
222 
† HR 5371 EAS 
‘‘(B) NO LIMITATIONS ON NOTICE.—The Of-
fice of the SAA and any officer, employee, or 
agent of the Office of the SAA shall not be barred 
from providing notice to a Senate office under 
subparagraph (A) by operation of any court 
order, any statutory provision, any other provi-
sion of law, any rule of civil or criminal proce-
dure, or any other rule, regulation, or policy. 
‘‘(C) LIMITATION ON LIABILITY.—The Office 
of the SAA and any officer, employee, or agent 
of the Office of the SAA shall not be liable under 
any criminal or civil law for providing notice to 
a Senate office under this paragraph. 
‘‘(3) SPECIAL RULE FOR TARGET AND NON-TAR-
GET INVESTIGATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) TARGET INVESTIGATIONS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—If a Senator is a 
target of a criminal investigation, a court 
may, upon application by the United 
States, issue an order delaying the notice 
required under this subsection with respect 
to an acquisition, subpoena, search, access-
ing, or disclosure of Senate data in connec-
tion with such investigation for a period of 
not more than 60 days if the court deter-
223 
† HR 5371 EAS 
mines that there is reason to believe that 
providing notice would— 
‘‘(I) endanger the life or physical 
safety of any person; 
‘‘(II) result in flight from prosecu-
tion; 
‘‘(III) result in destruction of or 
tampering with evidence; 
‘‘(IV) result in intimidation of 
potential witnesses; or 
‘‘(V) otherwise seriously jeopardize 
an investigation or unduly delay a 
trial. 
‘‘(ii) RENEWAL.—The court may renew 
such an order for additional periods of not 
more than 60 days each, if the court makes 
a renewed determination under clause (i). 
‘‘(B) ALL
OTHER
INVESTIGATIONS.—For 
any investigation in which a Senator is not a 
target of a criminal investigation, the notice re-
quirements under this subsection shall apply 
without delay. 
‘‘(d) PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection:
224 
† HR 5371 EAS 
‘‘(A) INSTANCE.—The term ‘instance’, with 
respect to a violation of this section, means each 
discrete act constituting a violation of this sec-
tion, including each individual— 
‘‘(i) device, account, record, or commu-
nication channel subject to collection in a 
manner in violation of this section; 
‘‘(ii) nondisclosure order or judicial 
sealing order sought, maintained, or ob-
tained; or 
‘‘(iii) search conducted. 
‘‘(B) VIOLATION
OF
THIS
SECTION.—The 
term ‘violation of this section’ means— 
‘‘(i) the seeking, maintaining, or ob-
taining of a nondisclosure order or judicial 
sealing order to prevent notification of a 
Senator, a Senate office, or the Office of the 
SAA as required under subsection (c); or 
‘‘(ii) Senate data was acquired, sub-
poenaed, searched, accessed, or disclosed 
pursuant to a search, seizure, or demand for 
information without notice being provided 
as required under subsection (c). 
‘‘(2) CAUSE
OF
ACTION.—Any Senator whose 
Senate data, or the Senate data of whose Senate of-
225 
† HR 5371 EAS 
fice, 
has 
been 
acquired, 
subpoenaed, 
searched, 
accessed, or disclosed in violation of this section may 
bring a civil action against the United States if the 
violation was committed by an officer, employee, or 
agent of the United States or of any Federal depart-
ment or agency. 
‘‘(3) RELIEF.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If a Senator prevails 
on a claim under this subsection, the court shall 
award— 
‘‘(i) for each instance of a violation of 
this section, the greater of statutory dam-
ages of $500,000 or the amount of actual 
damages; 
‘‘(ii) reasonable attorney’s fees and 
costs of litigation; and 
‘‘(iii) such injunctive or declaratory re-
lief as may be appropriate. 
‘‘(B) PRELIMINARY RELIEF.—Upon motion 
by a Senator, a court may award such prelimi-
nary injunctive relief as the court determines ap-
propriate with respect to a claim under this sub-
section. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATIONS AND IMMUNITY.—
226 
† HR 5371 EAS 
‘‘(A) PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS.—A civil ac-
tion under this subsection may not be com-
menced later than 5 years after the applicable 
Senator first obtains actual notice of the viola-
tion of this section. 
‘‘(B) NO IMMUNITY DEFENSE.—No officer, 
employee, or agent of the United States or of any 
Federal department or agency shall be entitled to 
assert any form of absolute or qualified immu-
nity as a defense to liability under this sub-
section. 
‘‘(5) WAIVER
OF
SOVEREIGN
IMMUNITY.—The 
United States expressly waives sovereign immunity 
with respect to actions brought under this subsection. 
‘‘(6) AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE FOR TARGET INVES-
TIGATIONS.—It shall be an affirmative defense to an 
action under this subsection if the United States es-
tablishes that each of the following requirements are 
met: 
‘‘(A) At the time the Senate data was ac-
quired, subpoenaed, searched, accessed, or dis-
closed, the Senator bringing the action was a 
target of a criminal investigation. 
‘‘(B) A Federal judge issued an order au-
thorizing a delay of notice to the Senator under
227 
† HR 5371 EAS 
subsection (c)(3)(A), based on written findings 
meeting the requirements of such subsection. 
‘‘(C) The United States complied with the 
order described in subparagraph (B), including 
that the delay of notice did not exceed the period 
authorized by the court. 
‘‘(D) Any related subpoena of, warrant re-
lating to, or access to Senate data was carried 
out strictly within the temporal and subject-mat-
ter scope authorized by the order, if any, author-
izing the subpoena, warrant, or access. 
‘‘(7) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this subsection 
shall be construed to— 
‘‘(A) limit or impair the constitutional pro-
tections afforded to Members of Congress, includ-
ing to protections under article I, section 6, 
clause 1 of the Constitution of the United States 
(commonly known as the ‘Speech or Debate 
Clause’); or 
‘‘(B) restrict the authority of the Senate or 
any Senate office to intervene in or defend 
against any legal process seeking disclosure of 
Senate data.’’. 
(b) LIMITED RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY.—
228 
† HR 5371 EAS 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to any acquisition, subpoena, 
search, accessing, or disclosure of Senate data (as de-
fined in section 10(a) of the Legislative Branch Ap-
propriations Act, 2005 (2 U.S.C. 6628(a)), as amend-
ed by this section), and to any failure to disclose such 
an acquisition, subpoena, search, accessing, or disclo-
sure, occurring on or after January 1, 2022. 
(2) PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS.— 
(A) DEFINITION.—In this paragraph, the 
term ‘‘violation of section 10’’ has the meaning 
given the term ‘‘violation of this section’’ in sub-
section (d) of section 10 of the Legislative 
Branch Appropriations Act, 2005 (2 U.S.C. 
6628), as added by this section. 
(B) PERIOD.—With respect to any violation 
of section 10 with respect to which the applicable 
Senator first obtained actual notice of the viola-
tion of section 10 before the date of enactment of 
this Act, a civil action under subsection (d) of 
section 10 of the Legislative Branch Appropria-
tions Act, 2005 (2 U.S.C. 6628), as added by 
this section, may not be commenced later than 5 
years after the date of enactment of this Act.
229 
† HR 5371 EAS 
This division may be cited as the ‘‘Legislative Branch 
Appropriations Act, 2026’’. 
DIVISION D—MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, 
VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED 
AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2026 
TITLE I 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY 
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip-
ment of temporary or permanent public works, military in-
stallations, facilities, and real property for the Army as 
currently authorized by law, including personnel in the 
Army Corps of Engineers and other personal services nec-
essary for the purposes of this appropriation, and for con-
struction and operation of facilities in support of the func-
tions of the Commander in Chief, $2,381,909,000, to remain 
available until September 30, 2030: Provided, That, of this 
amount, not to exceed $415,688,000 shall be available for 
study, planning, design, architect and engineer services, 
and host nation support, as authorized by law, unless the 
Secretary of the Army determines that additional obliga-
tions are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Com-
mittees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the 
determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further, 
That of the amount made available under this heading,
230 
† HR 5371 EAS 
$377,950,000 shall be for the projects and activities, and 
in the amounts, specified in the table under the heading 
‘‘Military Construction, Army’’ in the explanatory state-
ment described in section 4 (in the matter preceding divi-
sion A of this consolidated Act), in addition to amounts 
otherwise available for such purposes. 
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS 
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip-
ment of temporary or permanent public works, naval in-
stallations, facilities, and real property for the Navy and 
Marine Corps as currently authorized by law, including 
personnel in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command 
and other personal services necessary for the purposes of this 
appropriation, $5,725,724,000, to remain available until 
September 30, 2030: Provided, That, of this amount, not 
to exceed $629,088,000 shall be available for study, plan-
ning, design, and architect and engineer services, as author-
ized by law, unless the Secretary of the Navy determines 
that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes 
and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons 
therefor: Provided further, That of the amount made avail-
able under this heading, $290,690,000 shall be for the 
projects and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the 
table under the heading ‘‘Military Construction, Navy and
231 
† HR 5371 EAS 
Marine Corps’’ in the explanatory statement described in 
section 4 (in the matter preceding division A of this consoli-
dated Act), in addition to amounts otherwise available for 
such purposes. 
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE 
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip-
ment of temporary or permanent public works, military in-
stallations, facilities, and real property for the Air Force 
as currently authorized by law, including personnel in the 
Department of the Air Force when designated by the Sec-
retary of Defense to direct and supervise Military Construc-
tion projects in accordance with section 2851 of title 10, 
United States Code, and other personal services necessary 
for the purposes of this appropriation, $3,926,273,000, to 
remain available until September 30, 2030: Provided, That, 
of this amount, not to exceed $646,573,000 shall be available 
for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer 
services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of the 
Air Force determines that additional obligations are nec-
essary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Ap-
propriations of both Houses of Congress of the determina-
tion and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the 
amount made available under this heading, $361,800,000 
shall be for the projects and activities, and in the amounts, 
specified in the table under the heading ‘‘Military Construc-
232 
† HR 5371 EAS 
tion, Air Force’’ in the explanatory statement described in 
section 4 (in the matter preceding division A of this consoli-
dated Act), in addition to amounts otherwise available for 
such purposes. 
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip-
ment of temporary or permanent public works, installa-
tions, facilities, and real property for activities and agen-
cies of the Department of Defense (other than the military 
departments), 
as 
currently 
authorized 
by 
law, 
$3,784,301,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2030: Provided, That such amounts of this appropriation 
as may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may be 
transferred to such appropriations of the Department of De-
fense available for military construction or family housing 
as the Secretary may designate, to be merged with and to 
be available for the same purposes, and for the same time 
period, as the appropriation or fund to which transferred: 
Provided further, That, of the amount, not to exceed 
$226,301,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, 
and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, 
unless the Secretary of Defense determines that additional 
obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress
233 
† HR 5371 EAS 
of the determination and the reasons therefor: Provided fur-
ther, That of the amount made available under this head-
ing, $82,000,000 shall be for the projects and activities, and 
in the amounts, specified in the table under the heading 
‘‘Military Construction, Defense-Wide’’ in the explanatory 
statement described in section 4 (in the matter preceding 
division A of this consolidated Act), in addition to amounts 
otherwise available for such purposes. 
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD 
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita-
tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad-
ministration of the Army National Guard, and contribu-
tions therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, 
United States Code, and Military Construction Authoriza-
tion Acts, $272,930,000, to remain available until Sep-
tember 30, 2030: Provided, That, of the amount, not to ex-
ceed $80,080,000 shall be available for study, planning, de-
sign, and architect and engineer services, as authorized by 
law, unless the Director of the Army National Guard deter-
mines that additional obligations are necessary for such 
purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of 
both Houses of Congress of the determination and the rea-
sons therefor: Provided further, That of the amount made 
available under this heading, $112,050,000 shall be for the 
projects and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the
234 
† HR 5371 EAS 
table under the heading ‘‘Military Construction, Army Na-
tional Guard’’ in the explanatory statement described in 
section 4 (in the matter preceding division A of this consoli-
dated Act), in addition to amounts otherwise available for 
such purposes. 
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR NATIONAL GUARD 
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita-
tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad-
ministration of the Air National Guard, and contributions 
therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United 
States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, 
$292,546,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2030: Provided, That, of the amount, not to exceed 
$73,646,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, 
and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, 
unless the Director of the Air National Guard determines 
that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes 
and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons 
therefor: Provided further, That of the amount made avail-
able under this heading, $95,900,000 shall be for the projects 
and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the table 
under the heading ‘‘Military Construction, Air National 
Guard’’ in the explanatory statement described in section 
4 (in the matter preceding division A of this consolidated
235 
† HR 5371 EAS 
Act), in addition to amounts otherwise available for such 
purposes. 
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY RESERVE 
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita-
tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad-
ministration of the Army Reserve as authorized by chapter 
1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Con-
struction Authorization Acts, $92,239,000, to remain avail-
able until September 30, 2030: Provided, That, of the 
amount, not to exceed $6,013,000 shall be available for 
study, planning, design, and architect and engineer serv-
ices, as authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Army 
Reserve determines that additional obligations are nec-
essary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Ap-
propriations of both Houses of Congress of the determina-
tion and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the 
amount made available under this heading, $50,000,000 
shall be for the projects and activities, and in the amounts, 
specified in the table under the heading ‘‘Military Construc-
tion, Army Reserve’’ in the explanatory statement described 
in section 4 (in the matter preceding division A of this con-
solidated Act), in addition to amounts otherwise available 
for such purposes.
236 
† HR 5371 EAS 
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY RESERVE 
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita-
tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad-
ministration of the reserve components of the Navy and Ma-
rine Corps as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United 
States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, 
$52,255,000, to remain available until September 30, 2030: 
Provided, That, of the amount, not to exceed $2,255,000 
shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect 
and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Sec-
retary of the Navy determines that additional obligations 
are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees 
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the deter-
mination and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That 
of the amount made available under this heading, 
$50,000,000 shall be for the projects and activities, and in 
the amounts, specified in the table under the heading ‘‘Mili-
tary Construction, Navy Reserve’’ in the explanatory state-
ment described in section 4 (in the matter preceding divi-
sion A of this consolidated Act), in addition to amounts 
otherwise available for such purposes. 
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE RESERVE 
For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita-
tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad-
ministration of the Air Force Reserve as authorized by
237 
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chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military 
Construction Authorization Acts, $116,468,000, to remain 
available until September 30, 2030: Provided, That, of the 
amount, not to exceed $7,170,000 shall be available for 
study, planning, design, and architect and engineer serv-
ices, as authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Air Force 
Reserve determines that additional obligations are nec-
essary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Ap-
propriations of both Houses of Congress of the determina-
tion and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the 
amount made available under this heading, $56,010,000 
shall be for the projects and activities, and in the amounts, 
specified in the table under the heading ‘‘Military Construc-
tion, Air Force Reserve’’ in the explanatory statement de-
scribed in section 4 (in the matter preceding division A of 
this consolidated Act), in addition to amounts otherwise 
available for such purposes. 
NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION 
SECURITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM 
For the United States share of the cost of the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Pro-
gram for the acquisition and construction of military facili-
ties and installations (including international military 
headquarters) and for related expenses for the collective de-
fense of the North Atlantic Treaty Area as authorized by
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† HR 5371 EAS 
thorized by law, $177,597,000, to remain available until 
September 30, 2030. 
FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, NAVY 
AND MARINE CORPS 
For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Ma-
rine Corps for operation and maintenance, including debt 
payment, leasing, minor construction, principal and inter-
est charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized by law, 
$384,108,000. 
FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE 
For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for 
construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, 
expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, 
$274,230,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2030. 
FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, AIR 
FORCE 
For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for 
operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leas-
ing, minor construction, principal and interest charges, 
and 
insurance 
premiums, 
as 
authorized 
by 
law, 
$369,765,000.
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† HR 5371 EAS 
FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, 
DEFENSE-WIDE 
For expenses of family housing for the activities and 
agencies of the Department of Defense (other than the mili-
tary departments) for operation and maintenance, leasing, 
and minor construction, as authorized by law, $53,374,000. 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
FAMILY HOUSING IMPROVEMENT FUND 
For the Department of Defense Family Housing Im-
provement Fund, $8,315,000, to remain available until ex-
pended, for family housing initiatives undertaken pursuant 
to section 2883 of title 10, United States Code, providing 
alternative means of acquiring and improving military 
family housing and supporting facilities. 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
MILITARY UNACCOMPANIED HOUSING IMPROVEMENT 
FUND 
For the Department of Defense Military Unaccom-
panied Housing Improvement Fund, $497,000, to remain 
available until expended, for unaccompanied housing ini-
tiatives undertaken pursuant to section 2883 of title 10, 
United States Code, providing alternative means of acquir-
ing and improving military unaccompanied housing and 
supporting facilities.
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ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 
SEC. 101. None of the funds made available in this 
title shall be expended for payments under a cost-plus-a- 
fixed-fee contract for construction, where cost estimates ex-
ceed $25,000, to be performed within the United States, ex-
cept Alaska, without the specific approval in writing of the 
Secretary of Defense setting forth the reasons therefor. 
SEC. 102. Funds made available in this title for con-
struction shall be available for hire of passenger motor vehi-
cles. 
SEC. 103. Funds made available in this title for con-
struction may be used for advances to the Federal Highway 
Administration, Department of Transportation, for the con-
struction of access roads as authorized by section 210 of 
title 23, United States Code, when projects authorized there-
in are certified as important to the national defense by the 
Secretary of Defense. 
SEC. 104. None of the funds made available in this 
title may be used to begin construction of new bases in the 
United States for which specific appropriations have not 
been made. 
SEC. 105. None of the funds made available in this 
title shall be used for purchase of land or land easements 
in excess of 100 percent of the value as determined by the 
Army Corps of Engineers or the Naval Facilities Engineer-
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† HR 5371 EAS 
ing Command, except: (1) where there is a determination 
of value by a Federal court; (2) purchases negotiated by 
the Attorney General or the designee of the Attorney Gen-
eral; (3) where the estimated value is less than $25,000; or 
(4) as otherwise determined by the Secretary of Defense to 
be in the public interest. 
SEC. 106. None of the funds made available in this 
title shall be used to: (1) acquire land; (2) provide for site 
preparation; or (3) install utilities for any family housing, 
except housing for which funds have been made available 
in annual Acts making appropriations for military con-
struction. 
SEC. 107. None of the funds made available in this 
title for minor construction may be used to transfer or relo-
cate any activity from one base or installation to another, 
without prior notification to the Committees on Appropria-
tions of both Houses of Congress. 
SEC. 108. None of the funds made available in this 
title may be used for the procurement of steel for any con-
struction project or activity for which American steel pro-
ducers, fabricators, and manufacturers have been denied the 
opportunity to compete for such steel procurement. 
SEC. 109. None of the funds available to the Depart-
ment of Defense for military construction or family housing
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† HR 5371 EAS 
during the current fiscal year may be used to pay real prop-
erty taxes in any foreign nation. 
SEC. 110. None of the funds made available in this 
title may be used to initiate a new installation overseas 
without prior notification to the Committees on Appropria-
tions of both Houses of Congress. 
SEC. 111. None of the funds made available in this 
title may be obligated for architect and engineer contracts 
estimated by the Government to exceed $500,000 for projects 
to be accomplished in Japan, in any North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization member country, or in countries bordering the 
Arabian Gulf, unless such contracts are awarded to United 
States firms or United States firms in joint venture with 
host nation firms. 
SEC. 112. None of the funds made available in this 
title for military construction in the United States terri-
tories and possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein 
Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, may be 
used to award any contract estimated by the Government 
to exceed $1,000,000 to a foreign contractor: Provided, That 
this section shall not be applicable to contract awards for 
which the lowest responsive and responsible bid of a United 
States contractor exceeds the lowest responsive and respon-
sible bid of a foreign contractor by greater than 20 percent: 
Provided further, That this section shall not apply to con-
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† HR 5371 EAS 
tract awards for military construction on Kwajalein Atoll 
for which the lowest responsive and responsible bid is sub-
mitted by a Marshallese contractor. 
SEC. 113. The Secretary of Defense shall inform the 
appropriate committees of both Houses of Congress, includ-
ing the Committees on Appropriations, of plans and scope 
of any proposed military exercise involving United States 
personnel 30 days prior to its occurring, if amounts ex-
pended for construction, either temporary or permanent, 
are anticipated to exceed $100,000. 
SEC. 114. Funds appropriated to the Department of 
Defense for construction in prior years shall be available 
for construction authorized for each such military depart-
ment by the authorizations enacted into law during the cur-
rent session of Congress. 
SEC. 115. For military construction or family housing 
projects that are being completed with funds otherwise ex-
pired or lapsed for obligation, expired or lapsed funds may 
be used to pay the cost of associated supervision, inspection, 
overhead, engineering and design on those projects and on 
subsequent claims, if any. 
SEC. 116. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
any funds made available to a military department or de-
fense agency for the construction of military projects may 
be obligated for a military construction project or contract,
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† HR 5371 EAS 
or for any portion of such a project or contract, at any 
time before the end of the fourth fiscal year after the fiscal 
year for which funds for such project were made available, 
if the funds obligated for such project: (1) are obligated from 
funds available for military construction projects; and (2) 
do not exceed the amount appropriated for such project, 
plus any amount by which the cost of such project is in-
creased pursuant to law. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 117. Subject to 30 days prior notification, or 14 
days for a notification provided in an electronic medium 
pursuant to sections 480 and 2883 of title 10, United States 
Code, to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 
of Congress, such additional amounts as may be determined 
by the Secretary of Defense may be transferred to: (1) the 
Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund 
from amounts appropriated for construction in ‘‘Family 
Housing’’ accounts, to be merged with and to be available 
for the same purposes and for the same period of time as 
amounts appropriated directly to the Fund; or (2) the De-
partment of Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing Im-
provement Fund from amounts appropriated for construc-
tion of military unaccompanied housing in ‘‘Military Con-
struction’’ accounts, to be merged with and to be available 
for the same purposes and for the same period of time as
246 
† HR 5371 EAS 
amounts appropriated directly to the Fund: Provided, That 
appropriations made available to the Funds shall be avail-
able to cover the costs, as defined in section 502(5) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct loans or loan 
guarantees issued by the Department of Defense pursuant 
to the provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 
10, United States Code, pertaining to alternative means of 
acquiring and improving military family housing, military 
unaccompanied housing, and supporting facilities. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 118. In addition to any other transfer authority 
available to the Department of Defense, amounts may be 
transferred from the Department of Defense Base Closure 
Account to the fund established by section 1013(d) of the 
Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 
1966 (42 U.S.C. 3374) to pay for expenses associated with 
the Homeowners Assistance Program incurred under 42 
U.S.C. 3374(a)(1)(A). Any amounts transferred shall be 
merged with and be available for the same purposes and 
for the same time period as the fund to which transferred. 
SEC. 119. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
funds made available in this title for operation and mainte-
nance of family housing shall be the exclusive source of 
funds for repair and maintenance of all family housing 
units, including general or flag officer quarters: Provided,
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† HR 5371 EAS 
That not more than $35,000 per unit may be spent annu-
ally for the maintenance and repair of any general or flag 
officer quarters without 30 days prior notification, or 14 
days for a notification provided in an electronic medium 
pursuant to sections 480 and 2883 of title 10, United States 
Code, to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 
of Congress, except that an after-the-fact notification shall 
be submitted if the limitation is exceeded solely due to costs 
associated with environmental remediation that could not 
be reasonably anticipated at the time of the budget submis-
sion: Provided further, That the Under Secretary of Defense 
(Comptroller) is to report annually to the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress all operation 
and maintenance expenditures for each individual general 
or flag officer quarters for the prior fiscal year. 
SEC. 120. Amounts contained in the Ford Island Im-
provement Account established by subsection (h) of section 
2814 of title 10, United States Code, are appropriated and 
shall be available until expended for the purposes specified 
in subsection (i)(1) of such section or until transferred pur-
suant to subsection (i)(3) of such section. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 121. During the 5-year period after appropria-
tions available in this Act to the Department of Defense 
for military construction and family housing operation and
248 
† HR 5371 EAS 
maintenance and construction have expired for obligation, 
upon a determination that such appropriations will not be 
necessary for the liquidation of obligations or for making 
authorized adjustments to such appropriations for obliga-
tions incurred during the period of availability of such ap-
propriations, unobligated balances of such appropriations 
may be transferred into the appropriation ‘‘Foreign Cur-
rency Fluctuations, Construction, Defense’’, to be merged 
with and to be available for the same time period and for 
the same purposes as the appropriation to which trans-
ferred. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 122. Amounts appropriated or otherwise made 
available in an account funded under the headings in this 
title may be transferred among projects and activities with-
in the account in accordance with the reprogramming 
guidelines for military construction and family housing 
construction contained in Department of Defense Financial 
Management Regulation 7000.14–R, Volume 3, Chapter 7, 
of April 2021, as in effect on the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
SEC. 123. None of the funds made available in this 
title may be obligated or expended for planning and design 
and construction of projects at Arlington National Ceme-
tery.
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† HR 5371 EAS 
SEC. 124. For an additional amount for the accounts 
and in the amounts specified, to remain available until 
September 30, 2030: 
‘‘Military Construction, Army’’, $144,000,000; 
‘‘Military Construction, Army National Guard’’, 
$15,500,000; 
‘‘Military Construction, Air National Guard’’, 
$11,000,000; and 
‘‘Military 
Construction, 
Army 
Reserve’’, 
$15,000,000: 
Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to carry 
out construction and cost to complete projects identified in 
the respective military department’s unfunded priority list 
for fiscal year 2025 or 2026 submitted to Congress: Pro-
vided further, That such projects are subject to authoriza-
tion prior to obligation and expenditure of funds to carry 
out construction: Provided further, That not later than 60 
days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the mili-
tary department concerned, or their designee, shall submit 
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Con-
gress an expenditure plan for funds provided under this sec-
tion. 
SEC. 125. All amounts appropriated to the ‘‘Depart-
ment of Defense—Military Construction, Army’’, ‘‘Depart-
ment of Defense—Military Construction, Navy and Marine
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† HR 5371 EAS 
Corps’’, ‘‘Department of Defense—Military Construction, 
Air Force’’, and ‘‘Department of Defense—Military Con-
struction, Defense-Wide’’ accounts pursuant to the author-
ization of appropriations in a National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act specified for fiscal year 2026 in the funding table 
in section 4601 of that Act shall be immediately available 
and allotted to contract for the full scope of authorized 
projects. 
SEC. 126. Notwithstanding section 116 of this Act, 
funds made available in this Act or any available unobli-
gated balances from prior appropriations Acts may be obli-
gated before October 1, 2027 for fiscal year 2017, 2018, 
2019, and 2020 military construction projects for which 
project authorization has not lapsed or for which authoriza-
tion is extended for fiscal year 2026 by a National Defense 
Authorization Act: Provided, That no amounts may be obli-
gated pursuant to this section from amounts that were des-
ignated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pur-
suant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the Bal-
anced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 
SEC. 127. For the purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘con-
gressional defense committees’’ means the Committees on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate, the Subcommittee on Military Construction and 
Veterans Affairs of the Committee on Appropriations of the
253 
† HR 5371 EAS 
road projects at Arlington National Cemetery that have 
been authorized in accordance with section 210 of title 23, 
United State Code. 
TITLE II 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 
COMPENSATION AND PENSIONS 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
For the payment of compensation benefits to or on be-
half of veterans and a pilot program for disability examina-
tions as authorized by section 107 and chapters 11, 13, 18, 
51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code; pension 
benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by chapters 
15, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code; and 
burial benefits, the Reinstated Entitlement Program for 
Survivors, emergency and other officers’ retirement pay, ad-
justed-service credits and certificates, payment of premiums 
due on commercial life insurance policies guaranteed under 
the provisions of title IV of the Servicemembers Civil Relief 
Act (50 U.S.C. App. 541 et seq.) and for other benefits as 
authorized by sections 107, 1312, 1977, and 2106, and 
chapters 23, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States 
Code, $5,850,000,000, which shall be in addition to funds 
previously appropriated under this heading that became 
available on October 1, 2025, to remain available until ex-
254 
† HR 5371 EAS 
pended; and, in addition, $246,630,525,000, which shall be-
come available on October 1, 2026, to remain available 
until expended: Provided, That not to exceed $29,454,647 
of the amount made available for fiscal year 2027 under 
this heading shall be reimbursed to ‘‘General Operating Ex-
penses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’, and ‘‘Informa-
tion Technology Systems’’ for necessary expenses in imple-
menting the provisions of chapters 51, 53, and 55 of title 
38, United States Code, the funding source for which is spe-
cifically provided as the ‘‘Compensation and Pensions’’ ap-
propriation: Provided further, That such sums as may be 
earned on an actual qualifying patient basis, shall be reim-
bursed to ‘‘Medical Care Collections Fund’’ to augment the 
funding of individual medical facilities for nursing home 
care provided to pensioners as authorized. 
READJUSTMENT BENEFITS 
For the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation 
benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by chapters 
21, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 41, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of 
title 38, United States Code, $4,877,886,000, which shall 
be in addition to funds previously appropriated under this 
heading that became available on October 1, 2025, to re-
main available until expended; and, in addition, 
$24,703,528,000, which shall become available on October 
1, 2026, to remain available until expended: Provided, That
255 
† HR 5371 EAS 
expenses for rehabilitation program services and assistance 
which the Secretary is authorized to provide under sub-
section (a) of section 3104 of title 38, United States Code, 
other than under paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (11) of that 
subsection, shall be charged to this account. 
VETERANS INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES 
For military and naval insurance, national service life 
insurance, servicemen’s indemnities, service-disabled vet-
erans insurance, and veterans mortgage life insurance as 
authorized by chapters 19 and 21 of title 38, United States 
Code, $97,893,000, which shall become available on October 
1, 2026, to remain available until expended. 
VETERANS HOUSING BENEFIT PROGRAM FUND 
For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out the program, as authorized 
by subchapters I through III of chapter 37 of title 38, 
United States Code: Provided, That such costs, including 
the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in sec-
tion 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided 
further, That, during fiscal year 2026, within the resources 
available, not to exceed $500,000 in gross obligations for 
direct loans are authorized for specially adapted housing 
loans. 
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out 
the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $266,736,842.
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† HR 5371 EAS 
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT 
For the cost of direct loans, $45,428, as authorized by 
chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code: Provided, That 
such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall 
be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget 
Act of 1974: Provided further, That funds made available 
under this heading are available to subsidize gross obliga-
tions for the principal amount of direct loans not to exceed 
$1,394,442. 
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to 
carry out the direct loan program, $507,254, which may 
be paid to the appropriation for ‘‘General Operating Ex-
penses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’. 
NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM 
ACCOUNT 
For the cost of direct loans, $6,865,235, as authorized 
by subchapter V of chapter 37 of title 38, United States 
Code: Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modi-
fying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That 
funds made available under this heading are available to 
subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of di-
rect loans not to exceed $75,000,000.
257 
† HR 5371 EAS 
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out 
the direct loan program authorized by subchapter V of chap-
ter 37 of title 38, United States Code, $5,845,241. 
GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES, VETERANS BENEFITS 
ADMINISTRATION 
For necessary operating expenses of the Veterans Bene-
fits Administration, not otherwise provided for, including 
hire of passenger motor vehicles, reimbursement of the Gen-
eral Services Administration for security guard services, 
and reimbursement of the Department of Defense for the 
cost of overseas employee mail, $3,881,000,000: Provided, 
That expenses for services and assistance authorized under 
paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (11) of section 3104(a) of title 
38, United States Code, that the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs determines are necessary to enable entitled veterans: 
(1) to the maximum extent feasible, to become employable 
and to obtain and maintain suitable employment; or (2) 
to achieve maximum independence in daily living, shall be 
charged to this account: Provided further, That, of the funds 
made available under this heading, not to exceed 10 percent 
shall remain available until September 30, 2027. 
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 
MEDICAL SERVICES 
For necessary expenses for furnishing, as authorized 
by law, inpatient and outpatient care and treatment to
258 
† HR 5371 EAS 
beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs and vet-
erans described in section 1705(a) of title 38, United States 
Code, including care and treatment in facilities not under 
the jurisdiction of the Department, and including medical 
supplies and equipment, bioengineering services, food serv-
ices, and salaries and expenses of healthcare employees 
hired under title 38, United States Code, assistance and 
support services for caregivers as authorized by section 
1720G of title 38, United States Code, loan repayments au-
thorized by section 604 of the Caregivers and Veterans Om-
nibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 
124 Stat. 1174; 38 U.S.C. 7681 note), monthly assistance 
allowances authorized by section 322(d) of title 38, United 
States Code, grants authorized by section 521A of title 38, 
United States Code, and administrative expenses necessary 
to carry out sections 322(d) and 521A of title 38, United 
States Code, and hospital care and medical services author-
ized by section 1787 of title 38, United States Code; 
$59,858,000,000, plus reimbursements, which shall become 
available on October 1, 2026, and shall remain available 
until September 30, 2027: Provided, That, of the amount 
made available on October 1, 2026, under this heading, 
$2,000,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 
2028: Provided further, That of the $75,039,000,000 that 
became available on October 1, 2025, previously appro-
259 
† HR 5371 EAS 
priated under this heading in the Full-Year Continuing Ap-
propriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), 
$15,889,000,000 is hereby rescinded: Provided further, 
That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a priority for the 
provision of medical treatment for veterans who have serv-
ice-connected disabilities, lower income, or have special 
needs: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall give 
priority funding for the provision of basic medical benefits 
to veterans in enrollment priority groups 1 through 6: Pro-
vided further, That, notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may authorize the 
dispensing of prescription drugs from Veterans Health Ad-
ministration facilities to enrolled veterans with privately 
written prescriptions based on requirements established by 
the Secretary: Provided further, That the implementation 
of the program described in the previous proviso shall incur 
no additional cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs: 
Provided further, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall ensure that sufficient amounts appropriated under 
this heading for medical supplies and equipment are avail-
able for the acquisition of prosthetics designed specifically 
for female veterans: Provided further, That nothing in sec-
tion 2044(e) of title 38, United States Code, may be con-
260 
† HR 5371 EAS 
strued as limiting amounts that may be made available 
under this heading for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 in this 
or prior Acts. 
MEDICAL COMMUNITY CARE 
For necessary expenses for furnishing health care to 
individuals pursuant to chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, at non-Department facilities, $38,700,000,000, 
plus reimbursements, which shall become available on Octo-
ber 1, 2026, and shall remain available until September 
30, 2027: Provided, That, of the amount made available on 
October 1, 2026, under this heading, $2,000,000,000 shall 
remain available until September 30, 2028. 
MEDICAL SUPPORT AND COMPLIANCE 
For necessary expenses in the administration of the 
medical, hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction, 
supply, and research activities, as authorized by law; ad-
ministrative expenses in support of capital policy activities; 
and administrative and legal expenses of the Department 
for collecting and recovering amounts owed the Department 
as authorized under chapter 17 of title 38, United States 
Code, and the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (42 
U.S.C. 2651 et seq.), $12,000,000,000, plus reimbursements, 
which shall become available on October 1, 2026, and shall 
remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That, 
of the amount made available on October 1, 2026, under
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† HR 5371 EAS 
this heading, $350,000,000 shall remain available until 
September 30, 2028: Provided further, That, of the 
$12,700,000,000 that became available on October 1, 2025, 
previously appropriated under this heading in the Full- 
Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of 
Public Law 119–4), $610,000,000 is hereby rescinded. 
MEDICAL FACILITIES 
For necessary expenses for the maintenance and oper-
ation of hospitals, nursing homes, domiciliary facilities, 
and other necessary facilities of the Veterans Health Admin-
istration; for administrative expenses in support of plan-
ning, design, project management, real property acquisition 
and disposition, construction, and renovation of any facil-
ity under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department; 
for oversight, engineering, and architectural activities not 
charged to project costs; for repairing, altering, improving, 
or providing facilities in the several hospitals and homes 
under the jurisdiction of the Department, not otherwise pro-
vided for, either by contract or by the hire of temporary 
employees and purchase of materials; for leases of facilities; 
and for laundry services; $145,917,000, which shall be in 
addition to funds previously appropriated under this head-
ing that became available on October 1, 2025; and, in addi-
tion, $11,700,000,000, plus reimbursements, which shall be-
come available on October 1, 2026, and shall remain avail-
262 
† HR 5371 EAS 
able until September 30, 2027: Provided, That, of the 
amount made available on October 1, 2026, under this 
heading, $500,000,000 shall remain available until Sep-
tember 30, 2028. 
MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH 
For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of 
medical and prosthetic research and development as author-
ized by chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code, 
$945,000,000, plus reimbursements, shall remain available 
until September 30, 2027: Provided, That the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall ensure that sufficient amounts appro-
priated under this heading are available for prosthetic re-
search specifically for female veterans, and for toxic expo-
sure research. 
NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION 
For necessary expenses of the National Cemetery Ad-
ministration for operations and maintenance, not otherwise 
provided for, including uniforms or allowances therefor; 
cemeterial expenses as authorized by law; purchase of one 
passenger motor vehicle for use in cemeterial operations; 
hire of passenger motor vehicles; and repair, alteration or 
improvement of facilities under the jurisdiction of the Na-
tional Cemetery Administration, $498,500,000, of which 
not to exceed 10 percent shall remain available until Sep-
tember 30, 2027.
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† HR 5371 EAS 
DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION 
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
For necessary operating expenses of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including ad-
ministrative expenses in support of Department-wide cap-
ital planning, management and policy activities, uniforms, 
or allowances therefor; not to exceed $25,000 for official re-
ception and representation expenses; hire of passenger 
motor vehicles; and reimbursement of the General Services 
Administration for security guard services, $429,000,000, 
which shall be for the offices and in the amounts specified 
under this heading in the explanatory statement described 
in section 4 (in the matter preceding division A of this con-
solidated Act), of which not to exceed 10 percent for each 
such office shall remain available until September 30, 2027: 
Provided, That funds provided under this heading may be 
transferred to ‘‘General Operating Expenses, Veterans Bene-
fits Administration’’. 
BOARD OF VETERANS APPEALS 
For necessary operating expenses of the Board of Vet-
erans Appeals, $280,000,000, of which not to exceed 10 per-
cent shall remain available until September 30, 2027.
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
For necessary expenses for information technology sys-
tems and telecommunications support, including develop-
mental information systems and operational information 
systems; for pay and associated costs; and for the capital 
asset acquisition of information technology systems, includ-
ing management and related contractual costs of said ac-
quisitions, including contractual costs associated with oper-
ations authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States 
Code, $5,919,000,000, plus reimbursements: Provided, That 
$1,422,916,000 shall be for pay and associated costs, of 
which not to exceed 3 percent shall remain available until 
September 30, 2027: Provided further, That $3,917,921,000 
shall be for operations and maintenance, of which not to 
exceed 5 percent shall remain available until September 30, 
2027, and of which $118,900,000 shall remain available 
until September 30, 2030, for the purpose of facility activa-
tions related to projects funded by the ‘‘Construction, Major 
Projects’’, ‘‘Construction, Minor Projects’’, ‘‘Medical Facili-
ties’’, ‘‘National Cemetery Administration’’, ‘‘General Oper-
ating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’, and 
‘‘General Administration’’ accounts: Provided further, That 
$578,163,000 shall be for information technology systems 
development, and shall remain available until September
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† HR 5371 EAS 
30, 2027: Provided further, That amounts made available 
for salaries and expenses, operations and maintenance, and 
information technology systems development may be trans-
ferred among the three subaccounts after the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs requests from the Committees on Appro-
priations of both Houses of Congress the authority to make 
the transfer and an approval is issued: Provided further, 
That amounts made available for the ‘‘Information Tech-
nology Systems’’ account for development may be trans-
ferred among projects or to newly defined projects: Provided 
further, That no project may be increased or decreased by 
more than $3,000,000 of cost prior to submitting a request 
to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Con-
gress to make the transfer and an approval is issued, or 
absent a response, a period of 30 days has elapsed. 
VETERANS ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD 
For activities related to implementation, preparation, 
development, interface, management, rollout, and mainte-
nance of a Veterans Electronic Health Record system, in-
cluding contractual costs associated with operations author-
ized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, and sala-
ries and expenses of employees hired under titles 5 and 38, 
United States Code, $3,400,000,000, to remain available 
until September 30, 2028: Provided, That the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Appro-
266 
† HR 5371 EAS 
priations of both Houses of Congress quarterly reports de-
tailing obligations, expenditures, and deployment imple-
mentation by facility, including any changes from the de-
ployment plan or schedule: Provided further, That the funds 
provided in this account shall only be available to the Office 
of the Deputy Secretary, to be administered by that Office: 
Provided further, That 30 percent of the funds made avail-
able under this heading shall not be available until July 
1, 2026, and are contingent upon the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs providing to the Committees on Appropriations of 
both Houses of Congress a plan by June 1, 2026, containing 
the following: 
(1) an updated life-cycle cost estimate for the 
EHRM program based on the Department’s accelera-
tion of deployments announced in March 2025; 
(2) an updated facility-by-facility deployment 
schedule for all facilities to receive the EHRM pro-
gram; 
(3) a certification that all VA facilities using the 
new EHR on or before April 1, 2024, have exceeded 
or met certain health care performance baseline 
metrics indicating they have returned to their service 
delivery levels in place prior to the deployment of the 
new EHR;
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† HR 5371 EAS 
(4) a description of the projected Federal VA 
staffing levels, contract support, and other relevant 
activities required, and the resources required to fund 
those activities, to meet the deployment goal as out-
lined in (2), including target Federal and contracted 
staffing levels at VA Central Office and, each local VA 
medical center with a slated deployment in 2026 and 
2027, as well as contract support to provide technical 
and other change management support to carry out 
the deployments; and 
(5) a certification that the Department has 
achieved at least four consecutive successful site de-
ployments without any incidents of a delay in care 
or patient harm which must be disclosed under Vet-
erans Health Administration Directive 1004.08 which 
are attributable to EHR systems. 
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL 
For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector Gen-
eral, to include information technology, in carrying out the 
provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
401 et seq.), $296,000,000, of which not to exceed 10 percent 
shall remain available until September 30, 2027. 
CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS 
For constructing, altering, extending, and improving 
any of the facilities, including parking projects, under the
268 
† HR 5371 EAS 
jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, or for any of the purposes set forth in sections 316, 
2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, 
not otherwise provided for, including planning, architec-
tural and engineering services, construction management 
services, maintenance or guarantee period services costs as-
sociated with equipment guarantees provided under the 
project, services of claims analysts, offsite utility and storm 
drainage system construction costs, and site acquisition, 
where the estimated cost of a project is more than the 
amount set forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38, United 
States Code, or where funds for a project were made avail-
able 
in 
a 
previous 
major 
project 
appropriation, 
$1,394,000,000, of which $621,615,000 shall remain avail-
able until September 30, 2030, and of which $772,385,000 
shall remain available until expended: Provided, That ex-
cept for advance planning activities, including needs assess-
ments which may or may not lead to capital investments, 
and other capital asset management related activities, in-
cluding portfolio development and management activities, 
and planning, cost estimating, and design for major med-
ical facility projects and major medical facility leases and 
investment strategy studies funded through the advance 
planning fund and the planning and design activities fund-
ed through the design fund, staffing expenses, and funds
269 
† HR 5371 EAS 
provided for the purchase, security, and maintenance of 
land for the National Cemetery Administration and the 
Veterans Health Administration through the land acquisi-
tion line item, none of the funds made available under this 
heading shall be used for any project that has not been noti-
fied to Congress through the budgetary process or that has 
not been approved by the Congress through statute, joint 
resolution, or in the explanatory statement accompanying 
such Act and presented to the President at the time of en-
rollment: Provided further, That funds provided for the Vet-
erans Health Administration through the land acquisition 
line item shall be only for projects included on the five year 
development plan notified to Congress through the budg-
etary process: Provided further, That such sums as may be 
necessary shall be available to reimburse the ‘‘General Ad-
ministration’’ account for payment of salaries and expenses 
of all Office of Construction and Facilities Management em-
ployees to support the full range of capital infrastructure 
services provided, including minor construction and leasing 
services: Provided further, That funds made available under 
this heading for fiscal year 2026, for each approved project 
shall be obligated: (1) by the awarding of a construction 
documents contract by September 30, 2026; and (2) by the 
awarding of a construction contract by September 30, 2027: 
Provided further, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
270 
† HR 5371 EAS 
shall promptly submit to the Committees on Appropriations 
of both Houses of Congress a written report on any ap-
proved major construction project for which obligations are 
not incurred within the time limitations established above: 
Provided further, That notwithstanding the requirements of 
section 8104(a) of title 38, United States Code, amounts 
made available under this heading for seismic program 
management activities shall be available for the completion 
of both new and existing seismic projects of the Department. 
CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS 
For constructing, altering, extending, and improving 
any of the facilities, including parking projects, under the 
jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, including planning and assessments of needs which 
may lead to capital investments, architectural and engi-
neering services, maintenance or guarantee period services 
costs associated with equipment guarantees provided under 
the project, services of claims analysts, offsite utility and 
storm drainage system construction costs, and site acquisi-
tion, or for any of the purposes set forth in sections 316, 
2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, 
not otherwise provided for, where the estimated cost of a 
project is equal to or less than the amount set forth in sec-
tion 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38, United States Code, 
$350,000,000, of which $231,000,000 shall remain available
271 
† HR 5371 EAS 
until September 30, 2030, and of which $119,000,000 shall 
remain available until expended, along with unobligated 
balances of previous ‘‘Construction, Minor Projects’’ appro-
priations which are hereby made available for any project 
where the estimated cost is equal to or less than the amount 
set forth in such section: Provided, That funds made avail-
able under this heading shall be for: (1) repairs to any of 
the nonmedical facilities under the jurisdiction or for the 
use of the Department which are necessary because of loss 
or damage caused by any natural disaster or catastrophe; 
and (2) temporary measures necessary to prevent or to min-
imize further loss by such causes. 
GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE EXTENDED CARE 
FACILITIES 
For grants to assist States to acquire or construct 
State nursing home and domiciliary facilities and to re-
model, modify, or alter existing hospital, nursing home, and 
domiciliary facilities in State homes, for furnishing care 
to veterans as authorized by sections 8131 through 8137 of 
title 38, United States Code, $275,000,000, to remain avail-
able until expended. 
GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF VETERANS CEMETERIES 
For grants to assist States and tribal organizations 
in establishing, expanding, or improving veterans ceme-
teries as authorized by section 2408 of title 38, United
272 
† HR 5371 EAS 
States Code, $150,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended. 
COST OF WAR TOXIC EXPOSURES FUND 
For investment in the delivery of veterans’ health care 
associated with exposure to environmental hazards, the ex-
penses incident to the delivery of veterans’ health care and 
benefits associated with exposure to environmental hazards, 
and medical and other research relating to exposure to envi-
ronmental hazards, as authorized by section 324 of title 38, 
United States Code, and in addition to the amounts other-
wise available for such purposes in the appropriations pro-
vided in this or prior Acts, including the Fiscal Responsi-
bility Act of 2023 (Public Law 118–5), $52,676,000,000, 
to remain available until expended. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 201. Any appropriation for fiscal year 2026 for 
‘‘Compensation and Pensions’’, ‘‘Readjustment Benefits’’, 
and ‘‘Veterans Insurance and Indemnities’’ may be trans-
ferred as necessary to any other of the mentioned appro-
priations: 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 such Committees
273 
† HR 5371 EAS 
issue an approval, or absent a response, a period of 30 days 
has elapsed. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 202. Not to exceed 1 percent of amounts made 
available for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal 
year 2026, in this or any other Act, including prior Acts, 
under the ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, 
‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’, and ‘‘Medical Facili-
ties’’ accounts may be transferred among the accounts: Pro-
vided, That no such account shall be increased by more than 
1 percent, in this or any other Act, by any such transfer: 
Provided further, That amounts may be transferred pursu-
ant to this section only upon written notification from the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on Appro-
priations 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 sal-
aries and expenses shall be available for services authorized 
by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; hire of pas-
senger motor vehicles; lease of a facility or land or both; 
and uniforms or allowances therefore, as authorized by sec-
tions 5901 through 5902 of title 5, United States Code.
274 
† HR 5371 EAS 
SEC. 204. No appropriations in this title (except the 
appropriations 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 beneficiaries entitled to such hospitalization or ex-
amination under the laws providing such benefits to vet-
erans, and persons receiving such treatment under sections 
7901 through 7904 of title 5, United States Code, or the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)), unless reimbursement 
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 
‘‘Compensation and Pensions’’, ‘‘Readjustment Benefits’’, 
and ‘‘Veterans Insurance and Indemnities’’ shall be avail-
able 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 appropriations accounts resulting from sections
275 
† HR 5371 EAS 
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 ‘‘Compensation and Pen-
sions’’. 
(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 Tech-
nology 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 pro-
gram during fiscal year 2026 that are available for divi-
dends in that program after claims have been paid and ac-
tuarially determined reserves have been set aside: Provided 
further, That if the cost of administration of such an insur-
ance program exceeds the amount of surplus earnings accu-
mulated in that program, reimbursement shall be made 
only to the extent of such surplus earnings: Provided fur-
276 
† HR 5371 EAS 
ther, That the Secretary shall determine the cost of adminis-
tration 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 en-
hanced-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 Adju-
dication, and the Alternative 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 Resolu-
tion 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 Adminis-
277 
† HR 5371 EAS 
tration’’ and ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’ accounts 
for use by the office that provided the service. 
SEC. 211. No funds of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs 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-con-
nected disability described in section 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 information 
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 ac-
tivities (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 improve-