125 
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; $3,000,000, which shall be in ad-
dition to funds previously appropriated under this heading 
that become available on October 1, 2025; and, in addition, 
$11,700,000,000, 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, 
$500,000,000 shall remain available until September 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, 
$943,000,000, plus reimbursements, shall remain available 
until September 30, 2027: Provided, That the Secretary of
126 
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, $497,000,000, of which 
not to exceed 10 percent shall remain available until Sep-
tember 30, 2027. 
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
127 
Administration for security guard services, $440,000,000, 
which shall be for the offices and in the amounts specified 
under this heading in the report accompanying this 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 Benefits Adminis-
tration’’. 
BOARD OF VETERANS APPEALS 
For necessary operating expenses of the Board of Vet-
erans Appeals, $277,000,000, of which not to exceed 10 per-
cent shall remain available until September 30, 2027. 
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, $5,908,000,000, plus reimbursements: Provided, That 
$1,418,416,000 shall be for pay and associated costs, of 
which not to exceed 3 percent shall remain available until
128 
September 30, 2027: Provided further, That $4,488,829,000 
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 
$755,000 shall be for information technology systems devel-
opment, and shall remain available until September 30, 
2027: Provided further, That amounts made available for 
salaries and expenses, operations and maintenance, and in-
formation 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-
129 
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, $3,488,000,000, to remain available 
until September 30, 2028: Provided, That the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Appro-
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 25 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:
130 
(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; and 
(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. 
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL 
For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector Gen-
eral, to include information technology, in carrying out the
131 
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 
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-
132 
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 
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
133 
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 
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-
134 
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, 
$709,000,000, of which $467,940,000 shall remain available 
until September 30, 2030, and of which $241,060,000 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
135 
title 38, United States Code, $171,000,000, 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 
States Code, $60,000,000, 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-
136 
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 
issue an approval, or absent a response, a period of 30 days 
has elapsed. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 202. Amounts made available for the Department 
of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2026, in this or any other 
Act, under the ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community 
Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’, and ‘‘Medical 
Facilities’’ accounts may be transferred among the ac-
counts: Provided, That any transfers among the ‘‘Medical 
Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, and ‘‘Medical Sup-
port and Compliance’’ accounts of 1 percent or less of the 
total amount appropriated to the account in this or any 
other Act may take place subject to 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 any trans-
fers among the ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community 
Care’’, and ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’ accounts 
in excess of 1 percent, or exceeding the cumulative 1 percent 
for the fiscal year, may take place only after the Secretary
137 
requests from the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer and 
an approval is issued: Provided further, That any transfers 
to or from the ‘‘Medical Facilities’’ account may take place 
only after the Secretary requests from the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to 
make the transfer and an approval is issued. 
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. 
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-
138 
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 
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
139 
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-
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
140 
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-
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
141 
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-
ments 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 
‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ and ‘‘Construction, Minor 
Projects’’. 
SEC. 213. Amounts made available under ‘‘Medical 
Services’’ are available— 
(1) for furnishing recreational facilities, sup-
plies, and equipment; and 
(2) for funeral expenses, burial expenses, and 
other expenses incidental to funerals and burials for 
beneficiaries receiving care in the Department.
142 
(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’’ ac-
counts 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 organiza-
tions which are party to the Alaska Native Health Compact 
with the Indian Health Service, to provide healthcare, in-
cluding behavioral health and dental care, to veterans in 
rural Alaska. The Secretary shall require participating vet-
erans 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 De-
partment of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund pursuant 
to section 8118 of title 38, United States Code, may be 
transferred to the ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ and ‘‘Con-
143 
struction, 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 Con-
gress 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 
Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support 
and Compliance’’, ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, ‘‘General Oper-
ating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’, ‘‘Board 
of Veterans Appeals’’, ‘‘General Administration’’, and ‘‘Na-
tional Cemetery Administration’’ accounts for fiscal year 
2026 may be transferred to or from the ‘‘Information Tech-
nology 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 ‘‘In-
formation Technology Systems’’ account: Provided further, 
That, before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appro-
144 
priations of both Houses of Congress the authority to make 
the transfer and an approval is issued. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 219. Of the amounts appropriated to the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2026 for ‘‘Medical 
Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support 
and Compliance’’, ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, ‘‘Construction, 
Minor Projects’’, and ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’, 
up to $654,954,000, plus reimbursements, may be trans-
ferred to the Joint Department of Defense—Department of 
Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, es-
tablished by section 1704 of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion 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 de-
scribed by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National De-
fense 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 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 Con-
gress: Provided further, That section 220 of title II of divi-
145 
sion 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 Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs which become available on October 
1, 2026, for ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community 
Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’, and ‘‘Medical 
Facilities’’, up to $739,918,000, 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 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 Af-
fairs to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 
of Congress.
146 
(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—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 (2) for operations of the facilities 
designated as combined Federal medical facilities as de-
scribed by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National De-
fense 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 De-
fense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 
Demonstration 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
147 
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 authorized by sec-
tion 8111 of title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 223. None of the funds available to the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs, in this or any other Act, may 
be used to replace the current system by which the Veterans 
Integrated Service Networks select and contract for diabetes 
monitoring supplies and equipment. 
SEC. 224. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall no-
tify 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 pro-
grammed amount of the project, whichever is less: Provided, 
That such notification shall occur within 14 days of a con-
tract identifying the programmed amount: Provided fur-
ther, That the Secretary shall notify the Committees on Ap-
propriations of both Houses of Congress 14 days prior to 
the obligation of such bid savings and shall describe the an-
ticipated use of such savings. 
SEC. 225. None of the funds made available for ‘‘Con-
struction, Major Projects’’ may be used for a project in ex-
cess of the scope specified for that project in the original
148 
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 Appro-
priations 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 Con-
gress a quarterly report containing performance measures 
and data from each Veterans Benefits Administration Re-
gional 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 in-
clude information on the number of appeals pending at the 
Veterans Benefits Administration as well as the Board of 
Veterans Appeals on a quarterly basis. 
SEC. 227. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pro-
vide written notification to the Committees on Appropria-
tions of both Houses of Congress 15 days prior to organiza-
tional 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.
149 
SEC. 228. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pro-
vide on a quarterly basis to the Committees on Appropria-
tions 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. Amounts made available for the Department 
of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2026, under the ‘‘Board 
of Veterans Appeals’’ and the ‘‘General Operating Expenses, 
Veterans Benefits Administration’’ accounts may be trans-
ferred between such accounts: Provided, That before a trans-
fer 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. 230. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not 
reprogram funds among major construction projects or pro-
grams if such instance of reprogramming will exceed a cu-
mulative $7,000,000, unless such reprogramming is ap-
proved by the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 
of Congress. 
SEC. 231. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
ensure that the toll-free suicide hotline under section 
1720F(h) of title 38, United States Code—
150 
(1) provides to individuals who contact the hot-
line immediate assistance from a trained professional; 
and 
(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 posi-
tion 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 memo-
randum, or other action by the President; and 
(ii) any agency policy, order, or other direc-
tive. 
(c)(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct 
a study on the effectiveness of the hotline specified in sub-
section (a) during the 5-year period beginning on January
151 
1, 2016, based on an analysis 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 con-
tact the hotline specified in subsection (a) and who 
receive follow up services from the hotline or mental 
health services from the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs thereafter; 
(B) determine the number of veterans who con-
tact the hotline who are not referred to, or do not con-
tinue receiving, mental health care who commit sui-
cide; and 
(C) determine the number of veterans described 
in subparagraph (A) who commit or attempt suicide. 
SEC. 232. Effective during the period beginning on Oc-
tober 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 Clin-
ical Preventive Services Guidance Statement on the Vet-
erans Health Administration’s Screening for Breast Cancer 
Guidance’’ published on May 10, 2017, as issued by the Vet-
erans Health Administration National Center for Health 
Promotion and Disease Prevention.
152 
SEC. 233. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available 
to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the ‘‘Medical 
Services’’ account may be used to provide— 
(1) fertility counseling and treatment using as-
sisted reproductive 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 mean-
ing 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 dis-
ability 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 pro-
vided to a 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
153 
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 
reimbursement for the adoption-related expenses for 
an adoption that is finalized after the date of the en-
actment of this Act under the same terms as apply 
under the adoption reimbursement program of the De-
partment of Defense, as authorized in Department of 
Defense Instruction 1341.09, including the reimburse-
ment limits and requirements set forth in such in-
struction. 
(c) Amounts made available for the purposes specified 
in subsection (a) of this section are subject to the require-
154 
ments for funds contained in section 508 of division H of 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 
115–141). 
SEC. 234. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
made available by this Act or any other Act for the Depart-
ment of Veterans 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 Independent Agencies Appro-
priations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109–115; 119 Stat. 2506); 
or (2) section 8110(a)(5) of title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 235. Section 842 of Public Law 109–115 shall 
not apply to conversion of an activity or function of the 
Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Admin-
istration, or National Cemetery Administration to con-
tractor 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 sec-
tion 637(a)(15) of title 15, United States Code. 
SEC. 236. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Sec-
retary of Labor, shall discontinue collecting and using So-
cial Security account numbers to authenticate individuals 
in all information systems of the Department of Veterans
155 
Affairs for all individuals not later than September 30, 
2026. 
(b) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may collect and 
use a Social Security account number to identify an indi-
vidual, in accordance with section 552a of title 5, United 
States Code, in an information 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; 
(2) comply with a law, regulation, or court 
order; 
(3) perform anti-fraud activities; or 
(4) identify a specific individual where no ade-
quate substitute is available. 
(c) The matter in subsections (a) and (b) shall super-
sede section 237 of division A of Public Law 118–42. 
SEC. 237. 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. 238. 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
156 
any amounts from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensa-
tion Fund to any other account within the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
SEC. 239. 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 au-
thorized by section 205 of Public Law 111–163, notwith-
standing subsection (e) of such section. 
SEC. 240. 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 mem-
bers 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. 241. For funds provided to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2026 and 2027, sec-
tion 258 of division A of Public Law 114–223 shall apply. 
SEC. 242. (a) None of the funds appropriated or other-
wise made available by this Act may be used to deny an 
Inspector General funded under this Act timely access to 
any records, documents, or other materials available to the
157 
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, doc-
uments, and other materials in a timely manner. 
(c) Each Inspector General shall ensure compliance 
with statutory limitations on disclosure relevant to the in-
formation provided by the establishment over which that In-
spector General has responsibilities 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 Sen-
ate and the Committee 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. 243. 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.
158 
SEC. 244. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
made available by this Act to the Veterans Health Adminis-
tration may be used in fiscal year 2026 to convert any pro-
gram which received specific purpose funds in fiscal year 
2025 to a general purpose funded program unless the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs submits written notification of 
any such proposal to the Committees on Appropriations of 
both Houses of Congress at least 30 days prior to any such 
action and an approval is issued by the Committees. 
SEC. 245. For funds provided to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2026 and 2027, sec-
tion 248 of division A of Public Law 114–223 shall apply. 
SEC. 246. (a) None of the funds appropriated or other-
wise made available by this Act may be used to conduct 
research commencing on or after the date of enactment of 
this Act, that uses any canine, feline, or non-human pri-
mate unless the Secretary of Veterans Affairs approves such 
research specifically and in writing pursuant to subsection 
(b). 
(b)(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may approve 
the conduct of research commencing on or after the date 
of enactment of this Act, using canines, felines, or non- 
human primates if the Secretary certifies that— 
(A) the scientific objectives of the research can 
only be met by using such canines, felines, or non-
159 
human primates and cannot be met using other ani-
mal models, in vitro models, computational models, 
human clinical studies, or other research alternatives; 
(B) such scientific objectives are necessary to ad-
vance research benefiting veterans and are directly re-
lated to an illness or injury that is combat-related as 
defined by 10 U.S.C. 1413(e); 
(C) the research is consistent with the revised 
Department of Veterans Affairs canine research policy 
document dated December 15, 2017, including any 
subsequent revisions to such document; and 
(D) ethical considerations regarding minimizing 
the harm experienced by canines, felines, or non- 
human primates are included in evaluating the sci-
entific necessity of the research. 
(2) The Secretary may not delegate the authority 
under this subsection. 
(c) If the Secretary approves any new research pursu-
ant to subsection (b), not later than 30 days before the com-
mencement of such research, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a report describing— 
(1) the nature of the research to be conducted 
using canines, felines, or non-human primates;
160 
(2) the date on which the Secretary approved the 
research; 
(3) the USDA pain category on the approved 
use; 
(4) the justification for the determination of the 
Secretary that the scientific objectives of such research 
could only be met using canines, felines, or non- 
human primates, and methods used to make such de-
termination; 
(5) the frequency and duration of such research; 
and 
(6) the protocols in place to ensure the necessity, 
safety, and efficacy of the research, and animal wel-
fare. 
(d) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, and biannually thereafter, the Secretary 
shall submit to such Committees a report describing— 
(1) any research being conducted by the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs using canines, felines, or 
non-human primates as of the date of the submittal 
of the report; 
(2) the circumstances under which such research 
was conducted using canines, felines, or non-human 
primates;
161 
(3) the justification for using canines, felines, or 
non-human primates to conduct such research; 
(4) the protocols in place to ensure the necessity, 
safety, and efficacy of such research; and 
(5) the development and adoption of alternatives 
to canines, felines, or non-human primate research. 
(e) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Department 
of Veterans Affairs must submit to voluntary U.S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture inspections of canine, feline, and non- 
human primate research facilities. 
(f) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
shall submit to such Committees a report describing— 
(1) any violations of the Animal Welfare Act, the 
Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and 
Use of Laboratory Animals, or other Department of 
Veterans Affairs policies related to oversight of ani-
mal research found during that quarter in VA re-
search facilities; 
(2) immediate corrective actions taken; and 
(3) specific actions taken to prevent their recur-
rence. 
(g) The Department shall implement a plan under 
which the Secretary will eliminate the research conducted
162 
using canines, felines, or non-human primates by not later 
than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 247. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
use amounts appropriated or otherwise made available in 
this title to ensure that the ratio of veterans to full-time 
employment equivalents within any program of rehabilita-
tion conducted under chapter 31 of title 38, United States 
Code, does not exceed 125 veterans to one full-time employ-
ment equivalent. 
(b) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
report on the programs of rehabilitation conducted under 
chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, including— 
(1) an assessment of the veteran-to-staff ratio for 
each such program; and 
(2) recommendations for such action as the Sec-
retary considers necessary to reduce the veteran-to- 
staff ratio for each such program. 
SEC. 248. Amounts made available for the ‘‘Veterans 
Health Administration, Medical Community Care’’ account 
in this or any other Act for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 
may be used for expenses that would otherwise be payable 
from the Veterans Choice Fund established by section 802 
of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, as 
amended (38 U.S.C. 1701 note).
163 
SEC. 249. Obligations and expenditures applicable to 
the ‘‘Medical Services’’ account in fiscal years 2017 through 
2019 for aid to state homes (as authorized by section 1741 
of title 38, United States Code) shall remain in the ‘‘Med-
ical Community Care’’ account for such fiscal years. 
SEC. 250. Of the amounts made available for the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2026, in this 
or any other Act, under the ‘‘Veterans Health Administra-
tion—Medical Services’’, ‘‘Veterans Health Administra-
tion—Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Veterans Health Ad-
ministration—Medical Support and Compliance’’, ‘‘Vet-
erans Health Administration—Medical Facilities’’, and 
‘‘Cost 
of 
War 
Toxic 
Exposures 
Fund’’, 
accounts, 
$1,429,181,000 shall be made available for gender-specific 
care and programmatic efforts to deliver care for women 
veterans; $697,800,000 shall be made available for suicide 
prevention outreach programs; $3,500,000,000 shall be 
made available for the Caregivers program; $42,000,000 
shall be made available for the National Center for Post- 
Traumatic Stress Disorder; $70,000,000 shall be made 
available for the Neurology Centers of Excellence; 
$342,455,000 shall be made available for rural health care; 
and, $3,459,121,000 shall be made available for veterans’ 
homelessness programs.
164 
SEC. 251. Of the unobligated balances available in fis-
cal year 2026 in the ‘‘Recurring Expenses Trans-
formational Fund’’ established in section 243 of division 
J of Public Law 114–113, and in addition to any funds 
otherwise made available for such purposes in this, prior, 
or subsequent fiscal years, $900,000,000 shall be available 
for constructing, altering, extending, and improving med-
ical facilities of the Veterans Health Administration, in-
cluding all supporting activities and required contin-
gencies, during the period of availability of the Fund: Pro-
vided, That prior to obligation of any of the funds provided 
in this section, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must pro-
vide a plan for the execution of the funds appropriated in 
this section to the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress and such Committees issue an approval, 
or absent a response, a period of 30 days has elapsed. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 252. Of the $75,039,000,000 to become available 
on October 1, 2025, previously appropriated under the 
heading ‘‘Veterans Health Administration—Medical Serv-
ices’’ in the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 
(division A of Public Law 119–4), $2,030,000,000 shall be 
transferred to ‘‘Veterans Health Administration—Medical 
Facilities’’.
165 
SEC. 253. Not later than 30 days after enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure 
plan for funds made available in this Act and any available 
unobligated balances from prior Acts, including the Fiscal 
Responsibility Act of 2023 (Public Law 118–5), for the Cost 
of War Toxic Exposures Fund: Provided, That the budget 
resource categories supporting the Veterans Health Admin-
istration shall be reported by the subcategories ‘‘Medical 
Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support 
and Compliance’’, and ‘‘Medical and Prosthetic Research’’: 
Provided further, That not later than 30 days after the end 
of each fiscal quarter, the Secretary shall submit a quarterly 
report on the status of the funds, including, at a minimum, 
an update on obligations by program, project or activity. 
SEC. 254. Any amounts transferred to the Secretary 
and administered by a corporation referred to in section 
7364(b) of title 38, United States Code, between October 1, 
2017 and September 30, 2018 for purposes of carrying out 
an order placed with the Department of Veterans Affairs 
pursuant to section 1535 of title 31, United States Code, 
that are available for obligation pursuant to section 
7364(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, are to remain 
available for the liquidation of valid obligations incurred 
by such corporation during the period of performance of
166 
such order, provided that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
determines that such amounts need to remain available for 
such liquidation. 
SEC. 255. None of the funds in this or any other Act 
may be used to close Department of Veterans Affairs hos-
pitals, domiciliaries, or clinics, conduct an environmental 
assessment, or to diminish healthcare services at existing 
Veterans Health Administration medical facilities as part 
of a planned realignment of services until the Secretary 
provides to the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress a report including an analysis of how 
any such planned realignment of services will impact access 
to care for veterans living in rural or highly rural areas, 
including travel distances and transportation costs to access 
a Department medical facility and availability of local spe-
cialty and primary care. 
SEC. 256. Unobligated balances available under the 
headings ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ and ‘‘Construc-
tion, Minor Projects’’ may be obligated by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs for a facility pursuant to section 2(e)(1) 
of the Communities Helping Invest through Property and 
Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 (Public Law 
114–294; 38 U.S.C. 8103 note), as amended, to provide ad-
ditional funds or to fund an escalation clause under such 
section of such Act: Provided, That before such unobligated
167 
balances are obligated pursuant to this section, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees 
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority 
to obligate such unobligated balances and such Committees 
issue an approval, or absent a response, a period of 30 days 
has elapsed: Provided further, That the request to obligate 
such unobligated balances must provide Congress notice 
that the entity described in section 2(a)(2) of Public Law 
114–294, as amended, has exhausted available cost contain-
ment approaches as set forth in the agreement under section 
2(c) of such Public Law. 
SEC. 257. (a) None of the funds appropriated by this 
Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026 for the 
Department of Veterans Affairs may be obligated, awarded, 
or expended to procure or purchase covered information 
technology equipment in cases where the manufacturer, bid-
der, or offeror, or any subsidiary or parent entity of the 
manufacturer, bidder, or offeror, of the equipment is an en-
tity, or parent company of an entity listed on any of the 
following: 
(1) the Department of Defense’s Chinese Military 
Company List; 
(2) the Department of the Treasury’s Non-SDN 
Chinese Military Industrial Complex Companies List;
168 
(3) the Department of Commerce’s Denied Per-
sons List, Entity List, or Military End User List, if 
the entity is— 
(A) an agency or instrumentality of the 
People’s Republic of China; 
(B) an entity headquartered in the People’s 
Republic of China; or 
(C) directly or indirectly owned or con-
trolled by an agency, instrumentality, or entity 
described in subparagraph (A) or (B); or 
(4) the Department of Homeland Security’s 
Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List. 
(b) APPLICABILITY TO THIRD PARTIES.—The prohibi-
tion in subsection (a) also applies in cases in which the 
Secretary has contracted with a third party for the procure-
ment, purchase, or expenditure of funds on any of the equip-
ment and software described in such subsection. 
(c) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the 
term ‘‘covered information technology equipment’’ shall 
mean the following equipment used in an office environ-
ment: 
computers, 
printers, 
or 
interoperable 
videoconferencing equipment used in or by the Department 
of Veterans Affairs directly. ‘‘Covered information tech-
nology equipment’’ shall not refer to services that use such 
equipment, including cloud services.