Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026

Bill: 119-hr-3944
Sponsor: Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31]
Introduced: 2025-06-12 in the House
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Abortion
Alaska
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Alliances
Alternative and renewable resources
American Battle Monuments Commission
Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Appropriations
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Building construction
Cancer
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Caribbean area
Cemeteries and funerals
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Collective security
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Congressional-executive branch relations
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Cuba
Defense spending
Department of Defense
Department of Veterans Affairs
Disability and paralysis
District of Columbia
Emergency communications systems
Environmental health
Europe
Executive agency funding and structure
Family planning and birth control
Federal appellate courts
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health technology, devices, supplies
Immunology and vaccination
Indian social and development programs
Infrastructure development
Internet, web applications, social media
Life, casualty, property insurance
Medical research
Mental health
Military education and training
Military facilities and property
Military personnel and dependents
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Mississippi
Motor vehicles
National Guard and reserves
Prescription drugs
Public contracts and procurement
Religion
Research administration and funding
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Roads and highways
Sex and reproductive health
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Specialized courts
State and local government operations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' organizations and recognition
Veterans' pensions and compensation
Virginia
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2025-06-12
text: 

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

This bill provides FY2026 appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and related agencies.

The bill provides appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for military construction for

the Army;

the Navy and Marine Corps;

the Air Force;

Defense-wide agencies and activities;

the Army and Air National Guard; and

the Army, Navy, and Air Force Reserves.

The bill also provides appropriations to DOD for

the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program;

the Base Closure Account;

Construction and Operation and Maintenance of Family Housing for the Army, the Navy and Marine Corps, the Air Force, and Defense-wide agencies and activities;

the Family Housing Improvement Fund; and

the Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund.

Within the VA budget, the bill provides appropriations for

the Veterans Benefits Administration,

the Veterans Health Administration,

the National Cemetery Administration, and

Departmental Administration.

The bill provides appropriations for related agencies and programs, including

the American Battle Monuments Commission,

the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims,

Cemeterial Expenses of the Army, and

the Armed Forces Retirement Home.

The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts. 

action_date: 2025-08-01
text: 

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026

This bill provides FY2026 appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for activities and programs related to military construction, veterans, agriculture, and the legislative branch.

Specifically, the bill includes 3 of the 12 regular FY2026 appropriations bills:

the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026;

the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026; and

the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026.

The departments, agencies, and activities funded in the bill include

Department of Defense military construction and family housing activities,

the Department of Veterans Affairs,

the Department of Agriculture,

the Food and Drug Administration,

the Senate,

various agencies that support Congress, and

several related and independent agencies.

(Pursuant to the longstanding practice of each chamber of Congress determining its own requirements, funds for the House of Representatives are not included in the Senate bill.)

The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-09-18
text: Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House requests a conference.
action_date: 2025-09-11
text: The Speaker appointed conferees: Cole, Aderholt, Carter of Texas, Harris of Maryland, Valadao, Newhouse, Moolenaar, Rutherford, Cline, Hinson, Letlow, Guest, Zinke, Bice, Scott Franklin of Florida, LaLota, Strong, Maloy, Moore of West Virginia, DeLauro, Hoyer, Kaptur, Bishop, Wasserman Schultz, Cuellar, Pingree, Quigley, Espaillat, Underwood, Levin, Escobar, and Perez.
action_date: 2025-09-11
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2025-09-11
text: On motion that the House instruct conferees Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 211 - 213 (Roll no. 263). (consideration: CR H4249)
action_date: 2025-09-11
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House instruct conferees Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 211 - 213 (Roll no. 263). (consideration: CR H4249-4250: 2)
action_date: 2025-09-10
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the DeLauro motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 3944, the Chair put the question on motion to instruct conferees and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Ms. DeLauro demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2025-09-10
text: The previous question was ordered without objection.
action_date: 2025-09-10
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the DeLauro motion to instruct conferees.
action_date: 2025-09-10
text: Ms. DeLauro moved that the House instruct conferees.
action_date: 2025-09-10
text: On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and request a conference Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2025-09-10
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and request a conference Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2025-09-10
text: The previous question was ordered without objection.
action_date: 2025-09-10
text: Mr. Cole moved that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and request a conference.
action_date: 2025-09-10
text: Mr. Cole moved to take from the Speaker's table the bill H.R. 3944, with the Senate amendment thereto, disagree to the Senate amendment and request a conference.
action_date: 2025-08-08
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2025-08-01
text: Passed Senate under the order of 8/1/2025, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 87 - 9. Record Vote Number: 480.
action_date: 2025-08-01
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate under the order of 8/1/2025, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 87 - 9. Record Vote Number: 480.
action_date: 2025-08-01
text: The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2025-08-01
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S5189-5200)
action_date: 2025-07-23
text: Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S4588: 1; text: CR S4588-4598)
action_date: 2025-07-23
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 90 - 8. Record Vote Number: 428.
action_date: 2025-07-23
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4577: 6)
action_date: 2025-07-22
text: Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 91 - 7. Record Vote Number: 423. (CR S4520: 6)
action_date: 2025-07-22
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4515: 6)
action_date: 2025-07-17
text: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4449)
action_date: 2025-07-17
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S4449: 1)
action_date: 2025-07-17
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 121.
action_date: 2025-07-17
text: Committee on Appropriations. Reported by Senator Boozman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-43.
action_date: 2025-07-17
text: Committee on Appropriations. Reported by Senator Boozman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-43.
action_date: 2025-07-17
text: Committee on Appropriations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2025-06-30
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 206 (Roll no. 182).
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 206 (Roll no. 182).
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 208 - 216 (Roll no. 181).
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: Ms. Kaptur moved to recommit to the Committee on Appropriations. (CR H2958)
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: The House adopted the amendments en gros as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3944.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2957)
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 3944 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: Mr. Carter (TX) moved that the committee rise.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 530, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Joyce (OH) amendment No. 21.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 530, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Correa amendment No. 8.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Carter (TX) amendment en bloc No. 2, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Wasserman Schultz demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 530, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Carter (TX) amendment en bloc No. 2.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 530, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Carter (TX) amendment en bloc No. 1.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 3944.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Barry Loudermilk to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 530 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3944, H.R. 275, H.R. 875 and H. Res. 516. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3944 under a structured rule and H.R. 275, H.R. 875, and H.Res. 516 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on H.R. 3944, H.R. 275, and H.R. 875.
action_date: 2025-06-25
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 530. (consideration: CR H2937; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2941-2951)
action_date: 2025-06-23
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 530 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3944, H.R. 275, H.R. 875 and H. Res. 516. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3944 under a structured rule and H.R. 275, H.R. 875, and H.Res. 516 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on H.R. 3944, H.R. 275, and H.R. 875.
action_date: 2025-06-12
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 128.
action_date: 2025-06-12
text: The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-161, by Mr. Carter (TX).
action_date: 2025-06-12
text: The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-161, by Mr. Carter (TX).