Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026
Officially: “Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026” Read the full text
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Title IDepartment of Defense
This title would appropriate money for the Department of Defense for military construction and family housing for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026.
For military construction, it would provide (amounts remain available until September 30, 2030 unless noted): Army, $2,103,657,000, of which up to $321,838,000 is for study, planning, design, and architect/engineer and host-nation-support services, unless the Secretary of the Army decides more is needed for those purposes and tells both chambers' Appropriations Committees why, and of which $77,300,000 is earmarked for the specific projects and amounts listed in the accompanying committee report's Military Construction, Army table, on top of other available funds. Navy and Marine Corps, $4,104,499,000 (same September 30, 2030 availability), up to $526,821,000 of it capped for study/planning/design/engineer services unless the Secretary of the Navy makes the same kind of determination and notification, and $155,100,000 earmarked per the report's Navy and Marine Corps table. Air Force, $3,169,526,000, up to $460,886,000 capped the same way (Secretary of the Air Force can override with notice), and $32,400,000 earmarked per the report's table. Defense-wide, $3,963,383,000; the Secretary of Defense may transfer amounts he determines from this appropriation to other Department of Defense military construction or family housing appropriations, merged with and available for the same purpose and time as the receiving appropriation; up to $822,998,000 is capped for study/planning/design unless the Secretary of Defense determines otherwise and notifies Congress; $82,000,000 is earmarked per the report's table. Army National Guard, $358,489,000, up to $47,439,000 capped for study/design (Director of the Army National Guard can override with notice). Air National Guard, $210,492,000, up to $36,092,000 capped the same way (Director of the Air National Guard). Army Reserve, $305,032,000, up to $31,508,000 capped (Chief of the Army Reserve can override), $50,000,000 earmarked per the report's table. Navy Reserve, $79,829,000, up to $3,219,000 capped (Secretary of the Navy can override), $50,000,000 earmarked per the report's table. Air Force Reserve, $37,863,000, up to $20,162,000 capped (Chief of the Air Force Reserve can override), $3,200,000 earmarked per the report's table.
It would also fund: the United States' share of the NATO Security Investment Program, $293,434,000, available until expended, for acquiring and constructing military facilities (including international military headquarters) for the North Atlantic Treaty Area's collective defense. The Department of Defense Base Closure Account, $489,174,000, available until expended. Family housing for the Army: $276,647,000 for construction (through September 30, 2030) and $495,369,000 for operation and maintenance (including debt payment, leasing, minor construction, principal and interest, and insurance). Family housing for the Navy and Marine Corps: $245,742,000 for construction (through 2030) and $397,217,000 for operation and maintenance. Family housing for the Air Force: $221,549,000 for construction (through 2030) and $346,250,000 for operation and maintenance. Family housing operation and maintenance for defense-wide activities and agencies: $52,156,000. The Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund, $8,195,000, available until expended, for alternative ways to acquire and improve military family housing. The Department of Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund, $497,000, available until expended, for the same kind of alternative financing for unaccompanied housing.
The rest of the title (its "Administrative provisions," sections 101 through 132) attaches conditions to how this title's money can be used:
Sec. 101: none of this title's funds may pay a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee construction contract with a cost estimate over $25,000, for work inside the United States (except Alaska), without the Secretary of Defense's specific written approval and reasons. Sec. 102: this title's construction funds may be used to hire passenger motor vehicles. Sec. 103: this title's construction funds may be advanced to the Federal Highway Administration for access-road construction under 23 U.S.C. 210, if the Secretary of Defense certifies the project is important to national defense. Sec. 104: none of this title's funds may start construction of new United States bases that have not been specifically appropriated for. Sec. 105: none of this title's funds may buy land or land easements above 100 percent of the value the Army Corps of Engineers or Naval Facilities Engineering Command sets, except where a federal court has determined the value, the purchase is negotiated by the Attorney General or a designee, the estimated value is under $25,000, or the Secretary of Defense decides it serves the public interest. Sec. 106: none of this title's funds may acquire land, prepare a site, or install utilities for family housing except housing already funded by an annual military construction appropriations act. Sec. 107: none of this title's minor-construction funds may relocate an activity between bases without first notifying both chambers' Appropriations Committees. Sec. 108: none of this title's funds may pay for steel procurement on a project where American steel producers, fabricators, or manufacturers were denied the chance to compete. Sec. 109: none of the Department of Defense's military construction or family housing funds this fiscal year may pay real property taxes in a foreign country. Sec. 110: none of this title's funds may start a new overseas installation without first notifying both Appropriations Committees. Sec. 111: none of this title's funds may pay for architect or engineer contracts the government estimates above $500,000, for projects in Japan, any NATO member country, or countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, unless a United States firm (alone or in joint venture with a host-nation firm) gets the contract. Sec. 112: for military construction in the United States' Pacific territories and possessions, on Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, none of this title's funds may award a contract the government estimates above $1,000,000 to a foreign contractor, except this does not apply where the lowest responsive United States bid exceeds the lowest responsive foreign bid by more than 20 percent, and does not apply to Kwajalein Atoll contracts where the lowest responsive bid is from a Marshallese contractor. Sec. 113: the Secretary of Defense must tell the relevant House and Senate committees, including Appropriations, about any proposed military exercise involving United States personnel at least 30 days before it happens, if construction costs (temporary or permanent) are expected to exceed $100,000. Sec. 114: construction funds Congress appropriated to the Department of Defense in prior years stay available for construction each military department is authorized to do under authorizations enacted during the current session of Congress. Sec. 115: for military construction or family housing projects being finished with funds that have otherwise expired or lapsed, those expired funds may still pay for supervision, inspection, overhead, engineering, and design on those projects and any later claims. Sec. 116: notwithstanding other law, funds given to a military department or defense agency for military construction may be obligated for a project (or part of one) any time before the end of the fourth fiscal year after the year the funds were provided, as long as the obligated funds come from military-construction funding and do not exceed the amount appropriated for the project plus any legally authorized cost increase. Sec. 117: subject to 30 days' notice (or 14 days if electronic) to both Appropriations Committees, the Secretary of Defense may transfer additional amounts he determines are needed to the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund (from Family Housing construction funds) or the Department of Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund (from Military Construction funds), merged with and available for the same purpose and time as money appropriated directly to those Funds; money in the Funds may cover the budgetary cost of direct loans or loan guarantees the Department of Defense issues for alternative ways of acquiring and improving family housing, unaccompanied housing, and supporting facilities. Sec. 118: in addition to other transfer authority, money may move from the Department of Defense Base Closure Account to the fund under section 1013(d) of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966, to pay Homeowners Assistance Program expenses, merging with and available for the same purpose and time as that fund. Sec. 119: notwithstanding other law, this title's operation-and-maintenance family housing funds are the only source for repairing and maintaining all family housing units, including general or flag officer quarters; no more than $20,000 per unit may be spent yearly maintaining or repairing a general or flag officer's quarters without 30 days' notice (14 days if electronic) to both Appropriations Committees, except that after-the-fact notice is enough if the cap is exceeded solely because of unforeseeable environmental-remediation costs; the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) must report yearly to both Committees on operation-and-maintenance spending for each individual general or flag officer's quarters. Sec. 120: money in the Ford Island Improvement Account is appropriated and available until expended for the purposes that account's authorizing law specifies, or until transferred under that law. Sec. 121: during the five years after this Act's Department of Defense military-construction and family-housing funds expire for obligation, if it is determined they will not be needed to pay off obligations or make authorized adjustments, unobligated balances may move into the Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Construction, Defense account, merged with and available for the same purpose and time as that account. Sec. 122: money appropriated under this title's headings may move between projects and activities within the same account under the Department of Defense's April 2021 reprogramming guidelines (Financial Management Regulation 7000.14-R, Volume 3, Chapter 7). Sec. 123: none of this title's funds may pay for planning, design, or construction of projects at Arlington National Cemetery. Sec. 124: an additional amount, available through September 30, 2030, is added: Army $100,000,000; Navy and Marine Corps $100,000,000; Air Force $100,000,000; Army National Guard $40,000,000; Air National Guard $80,000,000; Army Reserve $40,000,000; Air Force Reserve $40,000,000; usable only for construction and completion of projects on that military department's fiscal year 2025 or 2026 unfunded priority list submitted to Congress, and those projects must still be authorized before funds are obligated or spent; within 60 days of enactment, the relevant Secretary or a designee must send both Appropriations Committees a spending plan. Sec. 125: all money appropriated to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and Defense-Wide military construction accounts under a fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act funding table (its section 4601) becomes immediately available and committed to contract for the full scope of the authorized projects. Sec. 126: notwithstanding section 116, funds in this Act or unobligated balances from earlier appropriations acts may be obligated before October 1, 2027 for fiscal year 2017-2020 military construction projects whose authorization has not lapsed, or whose authorization a fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act extends, except none of this may use money Congress designated as an emergency requirement. Sec. 127: for this Act, "congressional defense committees" means the House and Senate Armed Services Committees and the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. Sec. 128: an additional amount, through September 30, 2030, for planning, design, and construction improvements to Department of Defense laboratory facilities: Army $35,000,000; Navy and Marine Corps $35,000,000; Air Force $35,000,000; a spending plan is due to both Appropriations Committees within 60 days of enactment, and funds may not be obligated or spent until the Committees approve that plan. Sec. 129: an additional amount, through September 30, 2030, for planning and design of child development centers: Army $25,000,000; Navy and Marine Corps $25,000,000; Air Force $25,000,000; a spending plan is due within 60 days of enactment. Sec. 130: an additional amount, through September 30, 2030, for planning and design of barracks: Army $25,000,000; Navy and Marine Corps $25,000,000; Air Force $25,000,000; a spending plan is due within 60 days of enactment. Sec. 131: an additional amount, through September 30, 2029, for unspecified minor construction for demolition: Army $25,000,000; Navy and Marine Corps $25,000,000; Air Force $25,000,000; a spending plan is due to both Committees within 60 days of enactment, and funds may not be obligated or spent until the Committees approve it. Sec. 132: none of this Act's funds may close or realign the United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
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I DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Military construction, army For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of temporary or permanent public works, military installations, facilities, and real property for the Army as currently authorized by law, including personnel in the Army Corps of Engineers and other personal services necessary for the purposes of this appropriation, and for construction and operation of facilities in support of the functions of the Commander in Chief, $2,103,657,000, to remain available until September 30, 2030: Provided, That, of this amount, not to exceed $321,838,000 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 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 available under this heading, $77,300,000 shall be for the projects and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the table under the heading Military Construction, Army in the report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes. Military construction, navy and marine corps For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of temporary or permanent public works, naval installations, 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, $4,104,499,000, to remain available until September 30, 2030: Provided, That, of this amount, not to exceed $526,821,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as authorized 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 available under this heading, $155,100,000 shall be for the projects and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the table under the heading Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps in the report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes. Military construction, air force For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of temporary or permanent public works, military installations, facilities, and real property for the Air Force as currently authorized by law, $3,169,526,000, to remain available until September 30, 2030: Provided, That, of this amount, not to exceed $460,886,000 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 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 available under this heading, $32,400,000 shall be for the projects and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the table under the heading Military Construction, Air Force in the report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes. Military construction, defense-Wide (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of temporary or permanent public works, installations, facilities, and real property for activities and agencies of the Department of Defense (other than the military departments), as currently authorized by law, $3,963,383,000, 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 Defense 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 $822,998,000 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 of the determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $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 report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes. Military construction, army national guard For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the Army National Guard, and contributions therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $358,489,000, to remain available until September 30, 2030: Provided, That, of the amount, not to exceed $47,439,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Director of the Army 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. Military construction, air national guard For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the Air National Guard, and contributions therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $210,492,000, to remain available until September 30, 2030: Provided, That, of the amount, not to exceed $36,092,000 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. Military construction, army reserve For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the Army Reserve as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $305,032,000, to remain available until September 30, 2030: Provided, That, of the amount, not to exceed $31,508,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Army Reserve 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 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 Construction, Army Reserve in the report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes. Military construction, navy reserve For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the reserve components of the Navy and Marine Corps as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $79,829,000, to remain available until September 30, 2030: Provided, That, of the amount, not to exceed $3,219,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as authorized 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 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 Construction, Navy Reserve in the report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes. Military construction, air force reserve For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the Air Force Reserve as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $37,863,000, to remain available until September 30, 2030: Provided, That, of the amount, not to exceed $20,162,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Air Force Reserve 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 available under this heading, $3,200,000 shall be for the projects and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the table under the heading Military Construction, Air Force Reserve in the report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts otherwise made 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 Program for the acquisition and construction of military facilities and installations (including international military headquarters) and for related expenses for the collective defense of the North Atlantic Treaty Area as authorized by section 2806 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $293,434,000, to remain available until expended. Department of defense base closure account For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure Account, established by section 2906(a) of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 ( 10 U.S.C. 2687 note), $489,174,000, to remain available until expended. Family housing construction, army For expenses of family housing for the Army for construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, $276,647,000, to remain available until September 30, 2030. Family housing operation and maintenance, army For expenses of family housing for the Army for operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized by law, $495,369,000. Family housing construction, navy and marine corps For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine Corps for construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, $245,742,000, 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 Marine Corps for operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized by law, $397,217,000. 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, $221,549,000, 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, leasing, minor construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized by law, $346,250,000. 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 military departments) for operation and maintenance, leasing, and minor construction, as authorized by law, $52,156,000. Department of defense Family housing improvement fund For the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund, $8,195,000, to remain available until expended, 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 Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund, $497,000, to remain available until expended, for unaccompanied housing initiatives undertaken pursuant to section 2883 of title 10, United States Code, providing alternative means of acquiring and improving military unaccompanied housing and supporting facilities. Administrative provisions 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 exceed $25,000, to be performed within the United States, except Alaska, without the specific approval in writing of the Secretary of Defense setting forth the reasons therefor. 102. Funds made available in this title for construction shall be available for hire of passenger motor vehicles. 103. Funds made available in this title for construction may be used for advances to the Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, for the construction of access roads as authorized by section 210 of title 23, United States Code, when projects authorized therein are certified as important to the national defense by the Secretary of Defense. 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. 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 Engineering 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 General; (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. 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 construction. 107. None of the funds made available in this title for minor construction may be used to transfer or relocate any activity from one base or installation to another, without prior notification to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 108. None of the funds made available in this title may be used for the procurement of steel for any construction project or activity for which American steel producers, fabricators, and manufacturers have been denied the opportunity to compete for such steel procurement. 109. None of the funds available to the Department of Defense for military construction or family housing during the current fiscal year may be used to pay real property taxes in any foreign nation. 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 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 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. 112. None of the funds made available in this title for military construction in the United States territories 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 responsible bid of a foreign contractor by greater than 20 percent: Provided further, That this section shall not apply to contract awards for military construction on Kwajalein Atoll for which the lowest responsive and responsible bid is submitted by a Marshallese contractor. 113. The Secretary of Defense shall inform the appropriate committees of both Houses of Congress, including 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 expended for construction, either temporary or permanent, are anticipated to exceed $100,000. 114. Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for construction in prior years shall be available for construction authorized for each such military department by the authorizations enacted into law during the current session of Congress. 115. For military construction or family housing projects that are being completed with funds otherwise expired 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. 116. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any funds made available to a military department or defense agency for the construction of military projects may be obligated for a military construction project or contract, 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 increased pursuant to law. 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 Department of Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund from amounts appropriated for construction of military unaccompanied housing in Military Construction 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: Provided, That appropriations made available to the Funds shall be available 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. 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. 119. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds made available in this title for operation and maintenance 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, That not more than $20,000 per unit may be spent annually 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 submission: 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. 120. Amounts contained in the Ford Island Improvement 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 pursuant to subsection (i)(3) of such section. 121. During the 5-year period after appropriations available in this Act to the Department of Defense for military construction and family housing operation and 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 obligations incurred during the period of availability of such appropriations, unobligated balances of such appropriations may be transferred into the appropriation Foreign Currency 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 transferred. 122. Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available in an account funded under the headings in this title may be transferred among projects and activities within 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. 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 Cemetery. 124. For an additional amount for the accounts and in the amounts specified, to remain available until September 30, 2030: Military Construction, Army , $100,000,000; Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps , $100,000,000; Military Construction, Air Force , $100,000,000; Military Construction, Army National Guard , $40,000,000; Military Construction, Air National Guard , $80,000,000; Military Construction, Army Reserve , $40,000,000; Military Construction, Air Force Reserve , $40,000,000; and 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 fiscal year 2026 submitted to Congress: Provided further, That such projects are subject to authorization 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 military department concerned, or their designee, shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan for funds provided under this section. 125. All amounts appropriated to the Department of Defense—Military Construction, Army , Department of Defense—Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps , Department of Defense—Military Construction, Air Force , and Department of Defense—Military Construction, Defense-Wide accounts pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in a National Defense Authorization 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. 126. Notwithstanding section 116 of this Act, funds made available in this Act or any available unobligated balances from prior appropriations Acts may be obligated 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 authorization is extended for fiscal year 2026 by a National Defense Authorization Act: Provided, That no amounts may be obligated pursuant to this section from amounts that were designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 127. For the purposes of this Act, the term congressional 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 Senate, and the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. 128. For an additional amount for the accounts and in the amounts specified for planning and design and for construction improvements to Department of Defense laboratory facilities, to remain available until September 30, 2030: Military Construction, Army $35,000,000; Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps , $35,000,000; and Military Construction, Air Force , $35,000,000: Provided, That not later than 60 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the military department concerned, or their designee, shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan for funds provided under this section: Provided further, That the Secretary of the military department concerned may not obligate or expend any funds prior to approval by the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the expenditure plan required by this section. 129. For an additional amount for the accounts and in the amounts specified for planning and design, for child development centers, to remain available until September 30, 2030: Military Construction, Army , $25,000,000; Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps , $25,000,000; and Military Construction, Air Force , $25,000,000: Provided, That not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the military department concerned, or their designee, shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan for funds provided under this section. 130. For an additional amount for the accounts and amounts specified for planning and design, for barracks, to remain available until September 30, 2030: Military Construction, Army , $25,000,000; Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps , $25,000,000; and Military Construction, Air Force , $25,000,000: Provided, That not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the military department concerned, or their designee, shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan for funds provided under this section. 131. For an additional amount for the accounts and in the amounts specified for unspecified minor construction for demolition, to remain available until September 30, 2029: Military Construction, Army , $25,000,000; Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps , $25,000,000; Military Construction, Air Force , $25,000,000; Provided, That not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the military department concerned, or their designee, shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan for funds provided under this section: Provided further, That the Secretary of the military department concerned may not obligate or expend any funds prior to approval by the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the expenditure plan required by this section. 132. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to carry out the closure or realignment of the United States Naval Station, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
Title IIDepartment of Veterans Affairs
This title would appropriate money for the Department of Veterans Affairs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026 (and, for several accounts, sets money aside that only becomes available on October 1, 2026, effectively covering fiscal year 2027).
Veterans Benefits Administration accounts: Compensation and Pensions, $241,947,603,000, available October 1, 2026 until expended, for veterans' disability compensation and a pilot disability-examination program, pension benefits, burial benefits, the Reinstated Entitlement Program for Survivors, emergency and other officers' retirement pay, adjusted-service credits and certificates, premiums on commercial life insurance guaranteed under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, and other benefits under listed chapters of title 38; up to $29,454,647 of the fiscal year 2027 amount must be reimbursed to the General Operating Expenses and Information Technology Systems accounts for costs of administering related benefit chapters, and amounts earned per qualifying patient must be reimbursed to the Medical Care Collections Fund to help fund nursing-home care for pensioners. Readjustment Benefits, $20,057,841,000, available October 1, 2026 until expended, for readjustment and rehabilitation benefits; certain rehabilitation-service expenses under section 3104(a) are charged to this account. Veterans Insurance and Indemnities, $97,893,000, available October 1, 2026 until expended, for military and national service life insurance, servicemen's indemnities, service-disabled veterans insurance, and veterans mortgage life insurance. Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund: such sums as needed for the cost of direct and guaranteed housing loans, with up to $500,000 in gross obligations in fiscal year 2026 for specially adapted housing loans, plus $266,736,842 for administrative expenses to run the loan programs. Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program Account: $45,428 for the cost of direct loans, available to subsidize gross loan obligations up to $1,394,442 in principal, plus $507,254 for administrative expenses (payable to General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration). Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program Account: $6,865,235 for the principal amount of direct loans, available to subsidize gross loan obligations up to $75,000,000 in principal, plus $5,007,265 for administrative expenses. General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration: $3,876,425,000 for operating costs (including vehicle hire and reimbursing the General Services Administration for security guards and the Department of Defense for overseas employee mail); certain rehabilitation-service and independent-living expenses under section 3104(a) are charged here; up to 10 percent stays available until September 30, 2027.
Veterans Health Administration accounts: Medical Services, $59,858,000,000 plus reimbursements, available October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027 (of which $2,000,000,000 stays available through September 30, 2028), for inpatient and outpatient care, medical supplies and equipment, bioengineering, food service, healthcare-employee salaries, caregiver support, and related benefits; the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must prioritize treatment for veterans with service-connected disabilities, lower income, or special needs, must give priority funding to enrollment priority groups 1 through 6, may let facilities dispense prescription drugs to enrolled veterans holding outside prescriptions at Secretary-set terms and at no added cost to the Department, must ensure enough medical-supply funds go to prosthetics designed for female veterans, and this heading's funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 is not limited by section 2044(e)(1) of title 38. Medical Community Care, $3,000,000,000 through September 30, 2027, plus an additional $38,700,000,000 plus reimbursements available October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027 (of which $2,000,000,000 stays available through September 30, 2028), for care at non-Department facilities; separately, $3,000,000,000 of the $34,000,000,000 that became available October 1, 2025 under this heading in the fiscal year 2025 continuing appropriations act is permanently cancelled. Medical Support and Compliance, $12,000,000,000 plus reimbursements, available October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027 (of which $350,000,000 stays available through September 30, 2028), for administering medical, hospital, nursing-home, construction, supply, and research activities and for collecting money owed the Department. Medical Facilities, $11,700,000,000 plus reimbursements, available October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027 (of which $500,000,000 stays available through September 30, 2028), for maintaining and operating VA hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities, and related planning, construction, and leasing. Bridging Rental Assistance for Veteran Empowerment: contingent on Congress enacting a law authorizing a rental-assistance voucher program for homeless veterans, $970,000,000 through September 30, 2029, of which up to $75,000,000 may fund pilot programs (including administrative costs) aimed at ending veteran homelessness. Medical and Prosthetic Research, $943,000,000 plus reimbursements, through September 30, 2027, for medical and prosthetic research, with the Secretary required to ensure enough funds go to prosthetic research for female veterans and to toxic-exposure research.
National Cemetery Administration: $497,000,000 for operations and maintenance, cemeterial expenses, one replacement passenger vehicle, vehicle hire, and facility repairs; up to 10 percent stays available until September 30, 2027.
Departmental Administration accounts: General Administration, $450,000,000 for operating expenses (capital planning, uniforms, up to $25,000 for official reception and representation, vehicle hire, security-guard reimbursement), up to 10 percent available until September 30, 2027, and funds here may be transferred to General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration. Board of Veterans Appeals, $287,000,000, up to 10 percent available until September 30, 2027. Information Technology Systems, $5,882,000,000 plus reimbursements: $1,350,000,000 for pay and associated costs (up to 3 percent available until September 30, 2027); $4,531,000,000 for operations and maintenance (up to 5 percent available until September 30, 2027, and $118,900,000 available until September 30, 2030 for facility activations tied to specific construction and administration accounts); $1,000,000 for systems development, available until September 30, 2027; money may move among these three subaccounts, or among or into newly defined development projects, only after the Secretary requests and receives approval from both Appropriations Committees (no single project's cost may change by more than $3,000,000 without that approval, or without 30 days passing unanswered); development funds are for the specific projects listed in the accompanying report's development-projects table. Veterans Electronic Health Record, $2,515,893,000, through September 30, 2028, for building out and maintaining the electronic health record system, administered only by the Office of the Deputy Secretary, with quarterly reports to both Appropriations Committees on obligations, spending, and deployment; 25 percent of the funds are withheld until July 1, 2026 and depend on the Secretary certifying, at least 60 days before July 1, 2027, any changes to the deployment schedule, and certifying in writing at least 30 days before July 1, 2027 the status of open issues and whether the system is stable and ready for further deployment. Office of Inspector General, $295,000,000 (including information technology), up to 10 percent available until September 30, 2027.
Construction accounts: Construction, Major Projects, $1,750,000,000 through September 30, 2030, for constructing, altering, and improving VA facilities (including parking) where a project's estimated cost exceeds the statutory major-project threshold or was already funded in a prior major-project appropriation; except for certain planning, staffing, and land-purchase activities specifically carved out, none of this money may fund a project Congress has not been notified of through the budget process or approved by statute, joint resolution, or the accompanying explanatory statement; for fiscal year 2026, each approved project must have a construction-documents contract awarded by September 30, 2026 and a construction contract awarded by September 30, 2027, and the Secretary must promptly report to both Committees on any project that misses those deadlines. Construction, Minor Projects, $232,000,000 (of which $200,000,000 stays available until September 30, 2030 and $32,000,000 until expended), plus unobligated balances from earlier Minor Projects appropriations, for smaller-scale facility construction, and specifically for repairing non-medical facilities damaged by a natural disaster and for temporary measures to prevent further such loss. Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities, $171,000,000, until expended, to help states build or improve state nursing-home and domiciliary facilities. Grants for Construction of Veterans Cemeteries, $60,000,000, until expended, for states and tribal organizations to establish, expand, or improve veterans cemeteries. Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund, $52,676,000,000 available October 1, 2025 until expended, plus an additional $51,742,000,000 available October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2028, for healthcare, benefits, and research tied to exposure to environmental hazards.
The rest of the title (its "Administrative provisions," sections 201 through 261) sets conditions and restrictions on Department of Veterans Affairs spending:
Sec. 201: fiscal year 2026 money for Compensation and Pensions, Readjustment Benefits, and Veterans Insurance and Indemnities may move among those three accounts, but only after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs asks both Appropriations Committees for authority and they approve it (or 30 days pass with no response). Sec. 202: fiscal year 2026 money under Medical Services, Medical Community Care, Medical Support and Compliance, and Medical Facilities may move among those accounts; transfers of 1 percent or less among the first three need only notice to both Committees, transfers above 1 percent (or that push the year's cumulative transfers above 1 percent) need the Committees' approval, and any transfer involving Medical Facilities always needs the Committees' approval. Sec. 203: this title's salaries-and-expenses money may pay for outside experts under 5 U.S.C. 3109, vehicle hire, facility or land leases, and uniforms or allowances. Sec. 204: except for the two Construction accounts, none of this title's money may buy a site for a new hospital or home. Sec. 205: none of this title's money may pay for hospitalization or examination of anyone besides veterans legally entitled to it (or people covered under specific other statutes), unless the cost is reimbursed to Medical Services at rates the Secretary sets. Sec. 206: this title's Compensation and Pensions, Readjustment Benefits, and Veterans Insurance and Indemnities money may pay prior-year accrued obligations legally required to be recorded in the last quarter of fiscal year 2025. Sec. 207: this title's money may pay prior-year obligations arising under specific Title 31 recovery-of-debt provisions, except trust-fund obligations, which may be paid only from Compensation and Pensions. Sec. 208: notwithstanding other law, in fiscal year 2026 the Secretary must reimburse the General Operating Expenses and Information Technology Systems accounts, from surplus earnings in the government life-insurance funds, for the cost of administering those insurance programs, capped at the amount of available surplus earnings, with the Secretary determining the properly allocable fiscal year 2025 administrative cost for each program. Sec. 209: money deducted from enhanced-use-lease proceeds to reimburse an account for its prior-year enhanced-use-lease service costs stays available until expended. Sec. 210: this title's funds may reimburse the Office of Resolution Management, the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, and the Alternative Dispute Resolution function for services at cost-recovery rates, capped at $134,343,000, $7,607,000, and $7,686,000 respectively, with advance payment allowed based on estimated costs. Sec. 211: none of the Department's funds may pay for hospital, nursing-home, or medical care for a non-service-connected disability covered by section 1729(a)(2) unless the person has disclosed required third-party reimbursement information, and the Secretary may recover reasonable charges as a debt from anyone who does not disclose. Sec. 212: notwithstanding other law, proceeds from enhanced-use leasing may be deposited into the two Construction accounts and used for construction, site work, and improvements at VA medical facilities, on top of those accounts' other funding. Sec. 213: Medical Services money may pay for recreational facilities, supplies, and equipment, and for funeral and burial expenses for beneficiaries receiving Department care. Sec. 214: money deposited in the Medical Care Collections Fund may be transferred to Medical Services and Medical Community Care, staying available until expended for those accounts' purposes. Sec. 215: the Secretary may agree with Federally Qualified Health Centers in Alaska and with Indian tribes and tribal organizations under the Alaska Native Health Compact to provide healthcare, including behavioral health and dental care, to veterans in rural Alaska (defined as land outside Anchorage and the Fairbanks North Star Borough), subject to Secretary-set rules. Sec. 216: money deposited in the Department of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund may be transferred to the two Construction accounts, staying available until expended for those purposes. Sec. 217: within 30 days after each fiscal quarter, the Secretary must report to both Appropriations Committees on the Department's financial status for the prior quarter. Sec. 218: fiscal year 2026 money under several named accounts may move to or from Information Technology Systems, but such transfers cannot raise total Information Technology Systems funding by more than 10 percent, and the Secretary must get the Committees' approval first. Sec. 219: up to $654,954,000 plus reimbursements of fiscal year 2026 money under several named accounts may transfer to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund to operate combined federal medical facilities, with additional transfers allowed after written notice to both Committees; this section also repeals an earlier provision (section 220 of title II of division A of Public Law 118-42, as continued by division A of Public Law 119-4). Sec. 220: up to $739,918,000 plus reimbursements of money becoming available October 1, 2026 under several named Veterans Health Administration accounts may transfer to that same Joint Demonstration Fund for the same combined-facility purpose, with additional transfers allowed after written notice. Sec. 221: money deposited in the Medical Care Collections Fund for care at combined federal medical facilities may also be transferred to the Joint Demonstration Fund and used to operate those facilities, and once transferred it stays available until expended. Sec. 222: at least $15,000,000 of the funds available for the four main medical accounts must transfer to the DOD-VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund, staying available until expended. Sec. 223: the Secretary must notify both Committees of major-construction bid savings of at least $5,000,000 or 5 percent of a project's programmed amount, whichever is less, within 14 days of the contract setting that programmed amount, and must notify the Committees 14 days before obligating such savings, describing their planned use. Sec. 224: Construction, Major Projects money may not go beyond a project's originally justified scope unless both Committees approve. Sec. 225: within 30 days after each fiscal quarter, the Secretary must send both Committees a report with performance data from each Veterans Benefits Administration regional office, including data on appeals pending at both the Administration and the Board of Veterans Appeals. Sec. 226: the Secretary must give both Committees 15 days' written notice before an organizational change moves 25 or more full-time-equivalent positions between Department units. Sec. 227: the Secretary must notify both Committees quarterly of any single national outreach or marketing campaign with obligations over $1,000,000. Sec. 228: when necessary for Veterans Health Administration needs, the Secretary may transfer to Medical Services other fiscal year 2026 discretionary title II money (except General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration) or discretionary unobligated balances, but only with the Office of Management and Budget's approval, never using money Congress designated an emergency requirement, only for higher-priority items than those originally funded and never for an item Congress has denied, with unneeded transferred funds returnable to their original purpose, and only after both Appropriations Committees approve. Sec. 229: fiscal year 2026 money may move between the Board of Veterans Appeals and General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration accounts, but only with the Committees' approval. Sec. 230: the Secretary may not reprogram more than $7,000,000 at a time among major construction projects without the Committees' approval. Sec. 231: the Secretary must ensure the toll-free suicide hotline gives callers immediate help from a trained professional and meets American Association of Suicidology standards; none of this Act's funds may enforce an executive action that would bar the Secretary from filling or creating a civil-service position tied to the hotline; and the Secretary must study the hotline's effectiveness over the five years starting January 1, 2016, including how many callers get follow-up care and how many callers who are not referred to, or do not continue, mental-health care later attempt or commit suicide. Sec. 232: from October 1, 2018 through January 1, 2026, none of this Act's or any other Act's funds may be used in a way that contradicts the Veterans Health Administration's May 10, 2017 breast-cancer-screening guidance. Sec. 233: notwithstanding other law, Medical Services money may pay for fertility counseling and treatment using assisted reproductive technology for a covered veteran or spouse, or adoption reimbursement for a covered veteran, where a "covered veteran" is one whose service-connected disability prevents procreation without fertility treatment, using the same benefit terms (including an unlimited embryo-storage duration) as the Department of Defense's program for seriously injured or ill active-duty members, and the same adoption-reimbursement terms as the Department of Defense's adoption program for adoptions finalized after enactment. Sec. 234: none of this Act's or any other Act's Department funds may be used inconsistent with a named 2006 appropriations-act provision or with section 8110(a)(5) of title 38. Sec. 235: that named 2006 provision does not apply to converting a Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, or National Cemetery Administration function to contractor performance by a business at least 51 percent owned by Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian Organizations. Sec. 236: the Secretary, with the Secretaries of Defense and Labor, must stop using Social Security numbers to authenticate people in all Department information systems by September 30, 2026, except the Secretary may still use a Social Security number where needed to exchange information with an outside system, comply with a law or court order, do anti-fraud work, or identify someone when no adequate substitute exists; this supersedes an earlier, similar provision (section 237 of division J of Public Law 117-328). Sec. 237: a named prior-law provision (section 239 of division A of Public Law 114-223) applies to fiscal year 2026 and 2027 Medical Services funds. Sec. 238: none of this Act's or prior Acts' Department funds may move money out of the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund to any other Department account. Sec. 239: for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, Medical Services money may carry out and expand a named child-care program regardless of that program's normal sunset provision. Sec. 240: none of this title's funds may let the Secretary sign a dispute-resolution agreement that would stop someone from speaking to Members of Congress or staff about anything not otherwise legally required to be kept secret. Sec. 241: a named prior-law provision (section 258 of division A of Public Law 114-223) applies to fiscal year 2026 and 2027 Department funds. Sec. 242: none of this Act's funds may be used to deny a Department Inspector General timely access to records the Inspector General is entitled to see, or to impede that access, except under a law that expressly names that Inspector General and expressly limits access; covered agencies must give timely access, and each Inspector General must report to both Appropriations Committees within 5 days of any agency's failure to comply. Sec. 243: none of this Act's funds may be used in a way that increases veterans' wait times for care at Department medical facilities. Sec. 244: none of this Act's Veterans Health Administration funds may convert, in fiscal year 2026, a program that had specific-purpose funding in fiscal year 2025 into a general-purpose-funded program without 30 days' written notice to, and approval from, both Appropriations Committees. Sec. 245: a named prior-law provision (section 248 of division A of Public Law 114-223) applies to fiscal year 2026 and 2027 Department funds. Sec. 246: none of this Act's funds may pay for research starting on or after July 1, 2025 that uses dogs, cats, or non-human primates unless the Secretary personally (without delegating) certifies in writing that the research's scientific objectives can only be met using those animals, are necessary for veteran-benefiting research directly tied to a combat-related illness or injury, follow the Department's December 15, 2017 canine research policy, and account for minimizing animal harm; approved research must be reported to both Appropriations Committees at least 30 days before it starts, with periodic follow-up reports on ongoing research, animal-welfare compliance, and progress toward alternatives, the Department must submit to voluntary Department of Agriculture inspections of these research facilities starting December 31, 2025, and the Department must eliminate this kind of research entirely by September 20, 2026. Sec. 247: the Secretary may use title II funds to keep the veteran-to-staff ratio in any chapter 31 rehabilitation program at no more than 125 veterans per full-time-equivalent employee, and within 180 days of enactment must report to Congress on each program's ratio and recommendations to reduce it. Sec. 248: for fiscal years 2025 and 2026, Medical Community Care money may cover expenses that would otherwise come from the Veterans Choice Fund. Sec. 249: fiscal year 2017-2019 obligations for aid to state veterans' homes stay charged to the Medical Community Care account for those years. Sec. 250: of fiscal year 2024 money under the four main medical accounts, $1,323,444,000 must go to gender-specific care and programs for women veterans. Sec. 251: unless a federal or state court order prevents it, the Secretary must start construction of the Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Bakersfield, California by September 30, 2026, under a named lease. Sec. 252: within 30 days after each fiscal quarter, the Secretary must report to both Committees on the status of the Veterans Medical Care and Health Fund, including a plan for spending what is left. Sec. 253: certain funds administered by a title 38 corporation for a 2018-2019 order remain available to pay off valid obligations from that order's performance period, if the Secretary determines that is needed. Sec. 254: unobligated Construction, Major and Minor Projects balances may be obligated for a facility under a named 2016 law to add funds or cover a cost escalation, but only after the Secretary requests and receives the Committees' approval (or 30 days pass unanswered), and only after showing the relevant entity has exhausted its agreed cost-containment options. Sec. 255: none of this Act's funds may implement, administer, or otherwise carry out the Department's September 9, 2022 interim final rule, any successor to it, or any substantially similar rule or policy the Department proposes, promulgates, or implements. None of this Act's funds may pay for any abortion, including through a medical benefits package or health benefits program that covers abortion, except where the pregnancy results from an act of rape or incest, or where a physician certifies that the woman has a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, that would place her in danger of death unless an abortion is performed. Sec. 256: none of this Act's funds may pay for surgical procedures or hormone therapies for gender-affirming care. Sec. 257: from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, none of this Act's funds may implement or enforce a named 2023 rule on special-mode-of-transportation payment rates. Sec. 258: none of this Act's funds may carry out the named Veterans Health Administration COVID-19 vaccination directive for health-care personnel. Sec. 259: none of this Act's funds may provide services to anyone unlawfully present in the United States who is not otherwise eligible for Department healthcare. Sec. 260: none of this Act's funds may let the Secretary report someone found mentally incapacitated, incompetent, or in extended loss of consciousness as adjudicated a "mental defective" under the federal gun-background-check law, without a judge's or other competent judicial authority's order or finding that the person is a danger to themselves or others. Sec. 261: $15,889,000,000 of unobligated prior-year Veterans Health Administration balances is permanently rescinded, except none of the rescission may come from Medical and Prosthetic Research funds or emergency-designated funds, and the Secretary must send both Committees a rescission plan within 30 days of enactment.
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II DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Veterans benefits administration COMPENSATION AND PENSIONS (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) For the payment of compensation benefits to or on behalf of veterans and a pilot program for disability examinations 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, adjusted-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, $241,947,603,000 which shall become 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 Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration , and Information Technology Systems for necessary expenses in implementing the provisions of chapters 51, 53, and 55 of title 38, United States Code, the funding source for which is specifically provided as the Compensation and Pensions appropriation: Provided further, That such sums as may be earned on an actual qualifying patient basis, shall be reimbursed 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, $20,057,841,000, which shall become available on October 1, 2026, to remain available until expended: Provided, That expenses for rehabilitation program services and assistance which the Secretary is authorized to provide under subsection (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 veterans 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 section 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. 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 obligations 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 Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration . NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM ACCOUNT For the principal amount 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 modifying such loans, shall be 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 the direct loans not to exceed $75,000,000. In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct loan program, $5,007,265, which shall be paid as appropriate to the appropriations for General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration and General Administration . GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES, VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION For necessary operating expenses of the Veterans Benefits Administration, not otherwise provided for, including hire of passenger motor vehicles, reimbursement of the General Services Administration for security guard services, and reimbursement of the Department of Defense for the cost of overseas employee mail, $3,876,425,000: 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 Affairs 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 beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans 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 services, 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 authorized by section 604 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus 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 authorized by section 1787 of title 38, United States Code; $59,858,000,000, plus reimbursements, 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 notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a priority for the provision of medical treatment for veterans who have service-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: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may authorize the dispensing of prescription drugs from Veterans Health Administration 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 available for the acquisition of prosthetics designed specifically for female veterans: Provided further, That nothing in section 2044(e)(1) of title 38, United States Code, may be construed 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, $3,000,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 2027; and in addition $38,700,000,000, plus reimbursements, 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 $34,000,000,000 that became available on October 1, 2025, previously appropriated under this heading in the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of P.L. 119-4), $3,000,000,000 is hereby permanently cancelled. 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; administrative 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, 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, $350,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2028. MEDICAL FACILITIES For necessary expenses for the maintenance and operation of hospitals, nursing homes, domiciliary facilities, and other necessary facilities of the Veterans Health Administration; for administrative expenses in support of planning, design, project management, real property acquisition and disposition, construction, and renovation of any facility 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 provided for, either by contract or by the hire of temporary employees and purchase of materials; for leases of facilities; and for laundry services; $11,700,000,000, plus reimbursements, 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. BRIDGING RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR VETERAN EMPOWERMENT Contingent upon enactment of authorizing legislation to create a rental assistance voucher program for homeless veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs, for necessary expenses to carry out the Bridging Rental Assistance for Veteran Empowerment program, $970,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 2029, of which up to $75,000,000 shall be available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out pilot programs, including any necessary administrative expenses, that aim to end homelessness among veterans. MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of medical and prosthetic research and development as authorized 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 Veterans Affairs shall ensure that sufficient amounts appropriated under this heading are available for prosthetic research specifically for female veterans, and for toxic exposure research. National cemetery administration For necessary expenses of the National Cemetery Administration 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 National Cemetery Administration, $497,000,000, of which not to exceed 10 percent shall remain available until September 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 administrative expenses in support of Department-wide capital planning, management and policy activities, uniforms, or allowances therefor; not to exceed $25,000 for official reception and representation expenses; hire of passenger motor vehicles; and reimbursement of the General Services Administration for security guard services, $450,000,000, of which not to exceed 10 percent shall remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That funds provided under this heading may be transferred to General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration . BOARD OF VETERANS APPEALS For necessary operating expenses of the Board of Veterans Appeals, $287,000,000 of which not to exceed 10 percent shall remain available until September 30, 2027. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) For necessary expenses for information technology systems and telecommunications support, including developmental information systems and operational information systems; for pay and associated costs; and for the capital asset acquisition of information technology systems, including management and related contractual costs of said acquisitions, including contractual costs associated with operations authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, $5,882,000,000, plus reimbursements: Provided, That $1,350,000,000 shall be for pay and associated costs, of which not to exceed 3 percent shall remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided further, That $4,531,000,000 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 activations related to projects funded by the Construction, Major Projects , Construction, Minor Projects , Medical Facilities , National Cemetery Administration , General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefit Administration , and General Administration accounts: Provided further, That $1,000,000 shall be for information technology systems development, and shall remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided further, That amounts made available for salaries and expenses, operations and maintenance, and information technology systems development may be transferred among the three subaccounts after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 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 amounts made available for the Information Technology Systems account for development may be transferred 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 Congress to make the transfer and an approval is issued, or absent a response, a period of 30 days has elapsed: Provided further, That the funds made available under this heading for information technology systems development shall be for the projects, and in the amounts, specified in the table entitled Information Technology Development Projects under this heading in the report accompanying this Act. VETERANS ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD For activities related to implementation, preparation, development, interface, management, rollout, and maintenance of a Veterans Electronic Health Record system, including contractual costs associated with operations authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, and salaries and expenses of employees hired under titles 5 and 38, United States Code, $2,515,893,000, to remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress quarterly reports detailing obligations, expenditures, and deployment implementation by facility, including any changes from the deployment 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 available under this heading shall not be available until July 1, 2026, and are contingent upon the Secretary of Veterans Affairs— (1) providing the Committees on Appropriations certifying and detailing any changes to the full deployment schedule, no later than 60 days prior to July 1, 2027; and (2) certifying in writing no later than 30 days prior to July 1, 2027, the following— (A) the status of issues included in the report referenced in paragraph (1), including issues that have not been closed but have been suitably resolved or mitigated in a manner that will enhance provider productivity and minimize the potential for patient harm; and (B) whether the system is stable, and optimized for further deployment at VA sites. OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General, to include information technology, in carrying out the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), $295,000,000, 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, architectural and engineering services, construction management 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 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 available in a previous major project appropriation, $1,750,000,000, which shall remain available until September 30, 2030: Provided, That except for advance planning activities, including needs assessments which may or may not lead to capital investments, and other capital asset management related activities, including portfolio development and management activities, and planning, cost estimating, and design for major medical facility projects and major medical facility leases and investment strategy studies funded through the advance planning fund and the planning and design activities funded 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 acquisition line item, none of the funds made available under this heading shall be used for any project that has not been notified 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 enrollment: Provided further, That funds provided for the Veterans Health Administration through the land acquisition line item shall only be for projects included on the five year development plan notified to Congress through the budgetary process: Provided further, That such sums as may be necessary shall be available to reimburse the General Administration account for payment of salaries and expenses of all Office of Construction and Facilities Management employees 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 shall promptly submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a written report on any approved major construction project for which obligations are not incurred within the time limitations established above. 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 engineering 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 acquisition, 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 section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38, United States Code, $232,000,000, of which $200,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2030, and of which $32,000,000 shall remain available until expended, along with unobligated balances of previous Construction, Minor Projects appropriations 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 available 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 minimize 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 remodel, 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, $171,000,000, to remain available until expended. GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF VETERANS CEMETERIES For grants to assist States and tribal organizations in establishing, expanding, or improving veterans cemeteries as authorized by section 2408 of title 38, United States Code, $60,000,000, to remain available until expended. COST OF WAR TOXIC EXPOSURES FUND For investment in the delivery of veterans’ health care associated with exposure to environmental hazards, the expenses 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 environmental hazards, as authorized by section 324 of title 38, United States Code, and in addition to the amounts otherwise available for such purposes in the appropriations provided in this or prior Acts, $52,676,000,000, which shall become available on October 1, 2025, and shall remain available until expended; and, in addition, $51,742,000,000, which shall become available on October 1, 2026, and shall remain available until September 30, 2028. Administrative provisions (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 201. Any appropriation for fiscal year 2026 for Compensation and Pensions , Readjustment Benefits , and Veterans Insurance and Indemnities may be transferred as necessary to any other of the mentioned appropriations: 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) 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 accounts: Provided, That any transfers among the Medical Services , Medical Community Care , and Medical Support 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 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the amount and purpose of the transfer: Provided further, That any transfers 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 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. 203. Appropriations available in this title for salaries and expenses shall be available for services authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; hire of passenger motor vehicles; lease of a facility or land or both; and uniforms or allowances therefore, as authorized by sections 5901 through 5902 of title 5, United States Code. 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. 205. No appropriations in this title shall be available for hospitalization or examination of any persons (except beneficiaries entitled to such hospitalization or examination under the laws providing such benefits to veterans, and persons receiving such treatment under sections 7901 through 7904 of title 5, United States Code, or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 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. 206. Appropriations available in this title for Compensation and Pensions , Readjustment Benefits , and Veterans Insurance and Indemnities shall be available for payment of prior year accrued obligations required to be recorded by law against the corresponding prior year accounts within the last quarter of fiscal year 2025. 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 Pensions . (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 208. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during fiscal year 2026, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, from the National Service Life Insurance Fund under section 1920 of title 38, United States Code, the Veterans' Special Life Insurance Fund under section 1923 of title 38, United States Code, and the United States Government Life Insurance Fund under section 1955 of title 38, United States Code, reimburse the General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration and Information Technology Systems accounts for the cost of administration of the insurance programs financed through those accounts: Provided, That reimbursement shall be made only from the surplus earnings accumulated in such an insurance program during fiscal year 2025 that are available for dividends in that program after claims have been paid and actuarially determined reserves have been set aside: Provided further, That if the cost of administration of such an insurance program exceeds the amount of surplus earnings accumulated in that program, reimbursement shall be made only to the extent of such surplus earnings: Provided further, That the Secretary shall determine the cost of administration for fiscal year 2025 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. 209. Amounts deducted from enhanced-use lease proceeds to reimburse an account for expenses incurred by that account during a prior fiscal year for providing enhanced-use lease services shall be available until expended. (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 210. Funds available in this title or funds for salaries and other administrative expenses shall also be available to reimburse the Office of Resolution Management, the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, and the 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 $134,343,000 for the Office of Resolution Management, $7,607,000 for the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, and $7,686,000 for the Alternative Dispute Resolution function within the Office of Human Resources and Administration: Provided, That payments may be made in advance for services to be furnished based on estimated costs: Provided further, That amounts received shall be credited to the General Administration and Information Technology Systems accounts for use by the office that provided the service. 211. No funds of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall be available for hospital care, nursing home care, or medical services provided to any person under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, for a non-service-connected disability described in 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) 212. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, proceeds or revenues derived from enhanced-use leasing activities (including disposal) may be deposited into the Construction, Major Projects and Construction, Minor Projects accounts and be used for construction (including site acquisition and disposition), alterations, and improvements of any medical facility under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such sums as realized are in addition to the amount provided for in Construction, Major Projects and Construction, Minor Projects . 213. Amounts made available under Medical Services are available— (1) for furnishing recreational facilities, supplies, and equipment; and (2) for funeral expenses, burial expenses, and other expenses incidental to funerals and burials for beneficiaries receiving care in the Department. (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 214. Such sums as may be deposited into the Medical Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38, United States Code, may be transferred to the Medical Services and Medical Community Care accounts to remain available until expended for the purposes of these accounts. 215. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into agreements with Federally Qualified Health Centers in the State of Alaska and Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations which are party to the Alaska Native Health Compact with the Indian Health Service, to provide healthcare, including behavioral health and dental care, to veterans in rural Alaska. The Secretary shall require participating veterans and facilities to comply with all appropriate rules and regulations, as established by the Secretary. The term rural Alaska shall mean those lands which are not within the boundaries of the municipality of Anchorage or the Fairbanks North Star Borough. (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 216. Such sums as may be deposited into the Department of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund pursuant to section 8118 of title 38, United States Code, may be transferred to the Construction, Major Projects and Construction, Minor Projects accounts, to remain available until expended for the purposes of these accounts. 217. Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a report on the financial status of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the preceding quarter: Provided, That, at a minimum, the report shall include the direction contained in the paragraph entitled Quarterly reporting , under the heading General Administration in the joint explanatory statement accompanying Public Law 114–223 . (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 218. Amounts made available under the Medical Services , Medical Community Care , Medical Support and Compliance , Medical Facilities , General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration , Board of Veterans Appeals , General Administration , and National Cemetery Administration accounts for fiscal year 2026 may be transferred to or from the Information Technology Systems account: Provided, That such transfers may not result in a more than 10 percent aggregate increase in the total amount made available by this Act for the Information Technology Systems account: Provided further, That, before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer and an approval is issued. (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 219. Of the amounts appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2026 for Medical Services , Medical Community Care , Medical Support and Compliance , Medical Facilities , Construction, Minor Projects , and Information Technology Systems , up to $654,954,000, plus reimbursements, may be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 ( Public Law 111–84 ; 123 Stat. 2571) and may be used for operation of the facilities designated as combined Federal medical facilities as described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 ( Public Law 110–417 ; 122 Stat. 4500): Provided, That additional funds may be transferred from accounts designated in this section to the Joint Department of Defense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund upon written notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress: Provided further, That section 220 of title II of division A of Public Law 118–42 , as continued by division A of Public Law 119–4 is repealed. 220. Of the amounts appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs which become available on October 1, 2026, for Medical Services , Medical Community Care , Medical Support and Compliance , and Medical Facilities , up to $739,918,000, plus reimbursements, may be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 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 Affairs to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 221. Such sums as may be deposited into the Medical Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38, United States Code, for healthcare provided at facilities designated as combined Federal medical facilities as described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 ( Public Law 110–417 ; 122 Stat. 4500) shall also be available: (1) for transfer to the Joint Department of Defense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 ( Public Law 111–84 ; 123 Stat. 2571); and (2) for operations of the facilities designated as combined Federal medical facilities as described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 ( Public Law 110–417 ; 122 Stat. 4500): Provided, That, notwithstanding section 1704(b)(3) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 ( Public Law 111–84 ; 123 Stat. 2573), amounts transferred to the Joint Department of Defense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund shall remain available until expended. (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 222. Of the amounts available in this title for Medical Services , Medical Community Care , Medical Support and Compliance , and Medical Facilities , a minimum of $15,000,000 shall be transferred to the DOD–VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund, as authorized by section 8111(d) of title 38, United States Code, to remain available until expended, for any purpose authorized by section 8111 of title 38, United States Code. 223. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall notify the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of all bid savings in a major construction project that total at least $5,000,000, or 5 percent of the programmed amount of the project, whichever is less: Provided, That such notification shall occur within 14 days of a contract identifying the programmed amount: Provided further, That the Secretary shall notify the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 14 days prior to the obligation of such bid savings and shall describe the anticipated use of such savings. 224. None of the funds made available for Construction, Major Projects may be used for a project in excess of the scope specified for that project in the original justification data provided to the Congress as part of the request for appropriations unless the Secretary of Veterans Affairs receives approval from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 225. Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a quarterly report containing performance measures and data from each Veterans Benefits Administration Regional Office: Provided, That, at a minimum, the report shall include the direction contained in the section entitled Disability claims backlog , under the heading General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration in the joint explanatory statement accompanying Public Law 114–223 : Provided further, That the report shall also include information on the number of appeals pending at the Veterans Benefits Administration as well as the Board of Veterans Appeals on a quarterly basis. 226. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide written notification to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 15 days prior to organizational changes which result in the transfer of 25 or more full-time equivalents from one organizational unit of the Department of Veterans Affairs to another. 227. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide on a quarterly basis to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress notification of any single national outreach and awareness marketing campaign in which obligations exceed $1,000,000. (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 228. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, upon determination that such action is necessary to address needs of the Veterans Health Administration, may transfer to the Medical Services account any discretionary appropriations made available for fiscal year 2026 in this title (except appropriations made to the General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration account) or any discretionary unobligated balances within the Department of Veterans Affairs, including those appropriated for fiscal year 2026, that were provided in advance by appropriations Acts: Provided, That transfers shall be made only with the approval of the Office of Management and Budget: Provided further, That the transfer authority provided in this section is in addition to any other transfer authority provided by law: Provided further, That no amounts may be transferred from amounts that were designated by Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further, That such authority to transfer may not be used unless for higher priority items, based on emergent healthcare requirements, than those for which originally appropriated and in no case where the item for which funds are requested has been denied by Congress: Provided further, That, upon determination that all or part of the funds transferred from an appropriation are not necessary, such amounts may be transferred back to that appropriation and shall be available for the same purposes as originally appropriated: Provided further, That before a transfer may take place, 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. (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 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 transferred between such accounts: Provided, That before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer and receive approval of that request. 230. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not reprogram funds among major construction projects or programs if such instance of reprogramming will exceed $7,000,000, unless such reprogramming is approved by the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 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— (1) provides to individuals who contact the hotline 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 position relating to the hotline specified in subsection (a). (2) In this subsection— (A) the term civil service has the meaning given such term in section 2101(1) of title 5, United States Code; and (B) the term Executive action includes— (i) any Executive order, Presidential memorandum, or other action by the President; and (ii) any agency policy, order, or other directive. (c) (1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study on the effectiveness of the hotline specified in subsection (a) during the 5-year period beginning on January 1, 2016, based on an 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 contact the hotline specified in subsection (a) and who receive follow up services from the hotline or mental health services from the Department of Veterans Affairs thereafter; (B) determine the number of veterans who contact the hotline who are not referred to, or do not continue receiving, mental health care who commit suicide; and (C) determine the number of veterans described in subparagraph (A) who commit or attempt suicide. 232. Effective during the period beginning on October 1, 2018, and ending on January 1, 2026, none of the funds made available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by this or any other Act may be obligated or expended in contravention of the Veterans Health Administration Clinical Preventive Services Guidance Statement on the Veterans Health Administration’s Screening for Breast Cancer Guidance published on May 10, 2017, as issued by the Veterans Health Administration National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. 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 assisted 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 meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code. (2) The term covered veteran means a veteran, as such term is defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code, who has a service-connected disability that results in the inability of the veteran to procreate without the use of fertility treatment. (3) The term assisted reproductive technology means benefits relating to reproductive assistance provided to a member of the Armed Forces who incurs a serious injury or illness on active duty pursuant to section 1074(c)(4)(A) of title 10, United States Code, as described in the memorandum on the subject of Policy for Assisted Reproductive Services for the Benefit of Seriously or Severely Ill/Injured (Category II or III) Active Duty Service Members issued by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs on April 3, 2012, and the guidance issued to implement such policy, including any limitations on the amount of such benefits available to such a member except that— (A) the time periods regarding embryo cryopreservation and storage set forth in part III(G) and in part IV(H) of such memorandum shall not apply; and (B) such term includes embryo cryopreservation and storage without limitation on the duration of such cryopreservation and storage. (4) The term adoption reimbursement means reimbursement for the adoption-related expenses for an adoption that is finalized after the date of the enactment of this Act under the same terms as apply under the adoption reimbursement program of the Department of Defense, as authorized in Department of Defense Instruction 1341.09, including the reimbursement limits and requirements set forth in such instruction. (c) Amounts made available for the purposes specified in subsection (a) of this section are subject to the requirements for funds contained in section 508 of division H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 ( Public Law 115–141 ). 234. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act or any other Act for the Department 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 Appropriations Act, 2006 ( Public Law 109–115 ; 119 Stat. 2506); or (2) section 8110(a)(5) of title 38, United States Code. 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 Administration, or National Cemetery Administration to contractor performance by a business concern that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more Indian Tribes as defined in section 5304(e) of title 25, United States Code, or one or more Native Hawaiian Organizations as defined in section 637(a)(15) of title 15, United States Code. 236. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor, shall discontinue using Social Security account numbers to authenticate individuals in all information systems of the Department of Veterans 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 individual, 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 adequate substitute is available. (c) The matter in subsections (a) and (b) shall supersede section 237 of division J of Public Law 117–328 . 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. 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 any amounts from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund to any other account within the Department of Veterans Affairs. 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 authorized by section 205 of Public Law 111–163 , notwithstanding subsection (e) of such section. 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 members of Congress or their staff on any topic not otherwise prohibited from disclosure by Federal law or required by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs. 241. For funds provided to the Department of Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2026 and 2027, section 258 of division A of Public Law 114–223 shall apply. 242. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to deny an Inspector General funded under this Act timely access to any records, documents, or other materials available to the department or agency over which that Inspector General has responsibilities under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), or to prevent or impede the access of the Inspector General to such records, documents, or other materials, under any provision of law, except a provision of law that expressly refers to such Inspector General and expressly limits the right of access. (b) A department or agency covered by this section shall provide its Inspector General access to all records, documents, and other materials in a timely manner. (c) Each Inspector General shall ensure compliance with statutory limitations on disclosure relevant to the information provided by the establishment over which that Inspector General has responsibilities under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.). (d) Each Inspector General covered by this section shall report to the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate 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. 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. 244. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act to the Veterans Health Administration may be used in fiscal year 2026 to convert any program which received specific purpose funds in fiscal year 2025 to a general purpose funded program unless the Secretary 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. 245. For funds provided to the Department of Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2026 and 2027, section 248 of division A of Public Law 114–223 shall apply. 246. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to conduct research commencing on or after July 1, 2025, that uses any canine, feline, or non-human primate 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 July 1, 2025, 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-human primates and cannot be met using other animal models, in vitro models, computational models, human clinical studies, or other research alternatives; (B) such scientific objectives are necessary to advance research benefiting veterans and are directly related 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 scientific necessity of the research. (2) The Secretary may not delegate the authority under this subsection. (c) If the Secretary approves any new research pursuant to subsection (b), not later than 30 days before the commencement 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; (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 determination; (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 welfare. (d) Not later than December 31, 2025, and biannually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to such Committees a report describing— (1) any research being conducted by the Department 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; (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 primates research. (e) Not later than December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Department of Veterans Affairs must submit to voluntary U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections of canine, feline, and non-human primate research facilities. (f) Not later than December 31, 2025, 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 animal research found during that quarter in VA research facilities; (2) immediate corrective actions taken; and (3) specific actions taken to prevent their recurrence. (g) The Department shall implement a plan under which the Secretary will eliminate the research conducted using canines, felines, or non-human primates by not later than September 20, 2026. 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 rehabilitation conducted under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, does not exceed 125 veterans to one full-time employment equivalent. (b) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 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 Secretary considers necessary to reduce the veteran-to-staff ratio for each such program. 248. Amounts made available for the Veterans Health Administration, Medical Community Care account in this or any other Act for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 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). 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 Medical Community Care account for such fiscal years. 250. Of the amounts made available for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2024, in this or any other Act, under the Veterans Health Administration—Medical Services , Veterans Health Administration—Medical Community Care , Veterans Health Administration—Medical Support and Compliance , and Veterans Health Administration—Medical Facilities accounts, $1,323,444,000 shall be made available for gender-specific care and programmatic efforts to deliver care for women veterans. 251. Notwithstanding any other law, unless prevented by an order issued by a federal or state court, by no later than September 30, 2026, the Secretary shall commence construction of the Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Bakersfield, California authorized in section 1(a)(3) of Public Law 111–82 and in accordance with Lease No.36C10F20L0008 or successor lease. 252. Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a quarterly report on the status of the Veterans Medical Care and Health Fund , established to execute section 8002 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( Public Law 117–2 ): Provided, That, at a minimum, the report shall include an update on obligations by program, project or activity and a plan for expending the remaining funds. 253. 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, 2018 and September 30, 2019 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 such order, provided that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines that such amounts need to remain available for such liquidation. 254. Unobligated balances available under the headings Construction, Major Projects and Construction, 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 additional funds or to fund an escalation clause under such section of such Act: Provided, That before such unobligated balances are obligated pursuant to this section, the Secretary 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 containment approaches as set forth in the agreement under section 2(c) of such Public Law. 255. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to implement, administer, or otherwise carry out the Department of Veterans Affairs interim final rule published on September 9, 2022, or any successor to such rule, or to propose, promulgate, or implement any substantially similar rule or policy. (b) None of the funds appropriated in this Act shall be expended for any abortion, including through a medical benefits package or health benefits program that includes coverage of abortion. (c) The limitations established in subsection (b) shall not apply to an abortion— (1) if the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest; or (2) in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed. 256. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used for surgical procedures or hormone therapies for the purposes of gender affirming care. 257. During the period beginning on October 1, 2025 and ending on September 30, 2026, none of the funds made available by this Act may be used to administer, implement, or enforce the final rule issued by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to Change in Rates VA Pays for Special Modes of Transportation (88 Fed. Reg. 10032) and published on February 16, 2023. 258. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to carry out VHA Directive 1193.01, Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination Program for Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel . 259. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to provide any services to any individual unlawfully present in the United States who is not eligible for health care under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 260. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section 5502 of title 38, United States Code, in any case arising out of the administration by the Secretary of laws and benefits under such title, to report a person who is deemed mentally incapacitated, mentally incompetent, or to be experiencing an extended loss of consciousness as a person who has been adjudicated as a mental defective under subjection (d)(4) or (g)(4) of section 922 of title 18, United States Code, without the order or finding a judge, magistrate, or other judicial authority of competent jurisdiction that such person is a danger to himself or herself or others. 261. Of the unobligated balances from amounts made available under the heading Veterans Health Administration from prior appropriations Acts, including any funds transferred from the Medical Care Collections Fund to accounts under such heading, $15,889,000,000 is hereby permanently rescinded: Provided, That no amounts may be rescinded from amounts that were provided under the heading Medical and Prosthetic Research or amounts that were designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further; That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a plan for rescinding amounts pursuant to this section not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Title IIIRelated Agencies
This title would appropriate money for several related agencies connected to military and veterans affairs.
American Battle Monuments Commission: $106,000,000, available until expended, for necessary expenses including acquiring land abroad, uniforms for overseas cemetery and monument caretakers, foreign office and garage rent, one-for-one replacement of passenger vehicles, up to $15,000 for official reception and representation expenses, and insuring official vehicles abroad where local law requires it. Its Foreign Currency Fluctuations Account gets such sums as necessary, available until expended, for its authorized purposes.
United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims: $49,000,000 for court operations, of which $3,800,000 must fund a named financial-assistance program under a 1991 law's procedures.
Department of Defense-Civil, Cemeterial Expenses, Army: $115,000,000 to maintain, operate, and improve Arlington National Cemetery and the Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery, including one-for-one vehicle replacement and up to $2,000 for official reception and representation expenses, of which up to $15,000,000 stays available until September 30, 2028; in addition, whatever is needed for parking maintenance and repair comes from a separate defense real-property leasing account.
Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund: $70,520,000, through September 30, 2027, paid from the Trust Fund, to operate and maintain the Retirement Home's Washington, D.C. and Gulfport, Mississippi facilities, of which $1,000,000 stays available until expended for construction and renovation of those facilities' physical plants; $25,000,000 of the total is paid into the Trust Fund from the Treasury's general fund.
Sec. 301 (this title's one administrative provision): money deposited into the special account for the Army National Military Cemeteries is appropriated and stays available until expended to support activities there.
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III RELATED AGENCIES American battle monuments commission SALARIES AND EXPENSES For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the American Battle Monuments Commission, including the acquisition of land or interest in land in foreign countries; purchases and repair of uniforms for caretakers of national cemeteries and monuments outside of the United States and its territories and possessions; rent of office and garage space in foreign countries; purchase (one-for-one replacement basis only) and hire of passenger motor vehicles; not to exceed $15,000 for official reception and representation expenses; and insurance of official motor vehicles in foreign countries, when required by law of such countries, $106,000,000, to remain available until expended. FOREIGN CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS ACCOUNT For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the American Battle Monuments Commission, such sums as may be necessary, to remain available until expended, for purposes authorized by section 2109 of title 36, United States Code. United states court of appeals for veterans claims SALARIES AND EXPENSES For necessary expenses for the operation of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims as authorized by sections 7251 through 7298 of title 38, United States Code, $49,000,000: Provided, That $3,800,000 shall be available for the purpose of providing financial assistance as described and in accordance with the process and reporting procedures set forth under this heading in Public Law 102–229 . Department of defense—Civil Cemeterial expenses, army SALARIES AND EXPENSES For necessary expenses for maintenance, operation, and improvement of Arlington National Cemetery and Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery, including the purchase or lease of passenger motor vehicles for replacement on a one-for-one basis only, and not to exceed $2,000 for official reception and representation expenses, $115,000,000, of which not to exceed $15,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2028. In addition, such sums as may be necessary for parking maintenance, repairs and replacement, to be derived from the Lease of Department of Defense Real Property for Defense Agencies account. Armed forces retirement home TRUST FUND For expenses necessary for the Armed Forces Retirement Home to operate and maintain the Armed Forces Retirement Home—Washington, District of Columbia, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home—Gulfport, Mississippi, to be paid from funds available in the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund, $70,520,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027, of which $1,000,000 shall remain available until expended for construction and renovation of the physical plants at the Armed Forces Retirement Home—Washington, District of Columbia, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home—Gulfport, Mississippi: Provided, That of the amounts made available under this heading from funds available in the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund, $25,000,000 shall be paid from the general fund of the Treasury to the Trust Fund. Administrative provision 301. Amounts deposited into the special account established under 10 U.S.C. 7727 are appropriated and shall be available until expended to support activities at the Army National Military Cemeteries.
Title IVGeneral Provisions
This title sets general rules that apply across the whole Act (sections 401 through 420), plus a closing short-title clause.
Sec. 401: no appropriation in this Act stays available beyond the current fiscal year unless the Act expressly says so. Sec. 402: none of this Act's funds may go to a program, project, or activity once the responsible federal official is told it violates federal law on risk assessment, private-property-rights protection, or unfunded mandates. Sec. 403: agencies funded by this Act are encouraged, within their existing authority and funding, to expand their use of e-commerce technology. Sec. 404: unless the Act says otherwise, required reports and notifications go to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. Sec. 405: none of this Act's funds may transfer to another federal department, agency, or instrumentality except under transfer authority this or another appropriations act provides. Sec. 406: none of this Act's funds may go to a project or program named for a sitting Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner of the House of Representatives. Sec. 407: an agency funded by this Act must post on its website any report Congress required it to submit, if the agency head decides that serves the national interest, except where posting would compromise national security or reveal confidential or proprietary information, and only after the report has already been available to the requesting congressional committee for at least 30 days. Sec. 408: none of this Act's funds may maintain or set up a computer network unless it blocks viewing, downloading, and exchanging pornography, though this does not limit funds law-enforcement agencies need for criminal investigation, prosecution, or adjudication work. Sec. 409: none of this Act's funds may pay for an executive-branch employee's first-class travel in violation of named federal travel regulations. Sec. 410: none of this Act's funds may pay for a contract for goods or services, including construction, with a contractor that has not complied with Executive Order No. 12989. Sec. 411: none of this Act's funds may be used contrary to section 101(e)(8) of title 10, United States Code. Sec. 412: none of this Act's Department of Defense funds may construct, renovate, or expand a facility in the United States or its territories to house, for detention or imprisonment in Department of Defense custody, anyone who was detained at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Station as of June 24, 2009 and is not a United States citizen or servicemember, though this does not bar modifying facilities at Guantanamo Bay itself. Sec. 413: none of this Act's funds may be used, directly or indirectly, to influence congressional action on pending legislation or appropriations, other than the kind of communication with Members of Congress that federal law already allows. Sec. 414: an additional $1,500,000, available until expended, goes to the Office of the Secretary so the Secretary can contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study cancer prevalence and mortality among active-duty aircrew, identifying occupational exposures and their links to a list of specific cancers, with a report due to the Secretary and Congress within 18 months of enactment. Sec. 415: $1,500,000, available until expended, funds a pilot program for the Secretary to partner with a private lab using forensic genetic genealogy sequencing to identify the remains of fallen soldiers buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Sec. 416: none of this Act's fiscal year 2026 Department of Veterans Affairs funds may buy computers, printers, or interoperable videoconferencing equipment (but not services that merely use such equipment, including cloud services) for direct office use by Department employees, if the manufacturer, bidder, or offeror (or its parent or subsidiary) appears on any of four named U.S. government lists tied to Chinese military companies, PRC-linked entities, or forced-labor concerns, and this ban applies even when the Secretary contracts through an outside entity. Sec. 417: none of this Act's funds may be used to classify a United States person's communications as mis-, dis-, or mal-information, or to partner with or fund organizations that instruct, influence, or recommend that private companies censor, prohibit, or obstruct United States persons' lawful, constitutionally protected speech, including recommending removal of social-media content. Sec. 418: the Secretary must keep in effect the Veterans Health Administration's August 8, 2019 smoke-free workplace policy for employees at Department health-care facilities. Sec. 419: none of this Act's funds may reduce the staffing, hours, or services of the Veterans Crisis Line or any other Department suicide-prevention program. Sec. 420 (Spending Reduction Account): this account is set at $0.
The Act closes by giving itself a short title: it may be cited as the "Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026."
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IV GENERAL PROVISIONS 401. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein. 402. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used for any program, project, or activity, when it is made known to the Federal entity or official to which the funds are made available that the program, project, or activity is not in compliance with any Federal law relating to risk assessment, the protection of private property rights, or unfunded mandates. 403. All departments and agencies funded under this Act are encouraged, within the limits of the existing statutory authorities and funding, to expand their use of E-Commerce technologies and procedures in the conduct of their business practices and public service activities. 404. Unless stated otherwise, all reports and notifications required by this Act shall be submitted to the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 405. None of the funds made available in this Act may be transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government except pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer authority provided in, this or any other appropriations Act. 406. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used for a project or program named for an individual serving as a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner of the United States House of Representatives. 407. (a) Any agency receiving funds made available in this Act, shall, subject to subsections (b) and (c), post on the public Web site of that agency any report required to be submitted by the Congress in this or any other Act, upon the determination by the head of the agency that it shall serve the national interest. (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a report if— (1) the public posting of the report compromises national security; or (2) the report contains confidential or proprietary information. (c) The head of the agency posting such report shall do so only after such report has been made available to the requesting Committee or Committees of Congress for no less than 30days. 408. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to maintain or establish a computer network unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography. (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 criminal investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities. 409. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used by an agency of the executive branch to pay for first-class travel by an employee of the agency in contravention of sections 301–10.122 through 301–10.124 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations. 410. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to execute a contract for goods or services, including construction services, where the contractor has not complied with Executive Order No. 12989. 411. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used in contravention of section 101(e)(8) of title 10, United States Code. 412. (a) In general None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense in this Act may be used to construct, renovate, or expand any facility in the United States, its territories, or possessions to house any individual detained at United States Naval Station, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for the purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or under the control of the Department of Defense. (b) The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to any modification of facilities at United States Naval Station, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. (c) An individual described in this subsection is any individual who, as of June 24, 2009, is located at United States Naval Station, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and who— (1) is not a citizen of the United States or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States; and (2) is— (A) in the custody or under the effective control of the Department of Defense; or (B) otherwise under detention at United States Naval Station, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. 413. None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be used in any way, directly or indirectly, to influence congressional action on any legislation or appropriation matter pending before Congress, other than to communicate to Members of Congress as described in 18 U.S.C. 1913 . 414. For an additional amount for the Office of the Secretary , $1,500,000, to remain available until expended, for the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on the prevalence and mortality of cancers among individuals who served as active-duty aircrew in the Armed Forces: Provided, That the panel or panels established by the National Academies Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct the study shall identify exposures associated with military occupations of covered individuals, including relating to chemicals, compounds, agents, and other phenomena: Provided further, the study shall review the literature to determine associations between exposures and the incidence of overall cancer morbidity, cancer mortality and increased prevalence of brain cancer, colon and rectal cancers, kidney cancer, lung cancer, melanoma skin cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, urinary bladder cancer and any other cancers determined appropriate by the Department of Veterans Affairs: Provided further, That not later than eighteen months after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine shall submit its report to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Congress of its systematic review and data analysis of the research topics. 415. There is hereby appropriated $1,500,000, to remain available until expended, for a pilot program for the Secretary to partner with a private laboratory to utilize Forensic Genetic Genealogy sequencing technology to identify the remains of fallen soldiers buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. 416. (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, bidder, or offeror, or any subsidiary or parent entity of the manufacturer, bidder, or offeror, of the equipment is an entity or parent company of an entity listed on any of the following: (1) The Chinese Military Company List of the Department of Defense. (2) The Non-SDN Chinese Military Industrial Complex Companies List of the Department of the Treasury. (3) The Denied Persons List, Entity List, or Military End User List of the Department of Commerce, 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 controlled by an agency, instrumentality, or entity described in subparagraph (A) or (B). (4) The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List of the Department of Homeland Security. (b) The prohibition under subsection (a) shall apply to a case in which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has entered into a contract with a non-Department entity for the procurement or purchase of, or the expenditure of funds on, covered information technology equipment. (c) In this section, the term covered information technology equipment — (1) means a computer, printer, or interoperable videoconferencing equipment for direct use by employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs in an office environment; and (2) does not include services that use such equipment, including cloud services. 417. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available in this Act may be used to— (1) Classify or facilitate the classification of any communications by a United States person as a mis-, dis-, or mal-information; or (2) Partner with or fund nonprofit or other private organizations that in any way instruct, influence, direct, or recommend that private companies in any way censor, prohibit, or obstruct lawful and constitutionally protected speech of United States persons, including recommending the censoring or removal of content on social media platforms. 418. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the policies and requirements described in the transmittal sheet of the Veterans Health Administration published on August 8, 2019, titled Smoke-Free Policy for Employees at VA Health Care Facilities (VHA Directive 1085.01) remain in effect. 419. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to reduce the staffing, hours of operation, or services of the Veterans Crisis Line or any other suicide prevention program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. SPENDING REDUCTION ACCOUNT 420. $0. This Act may be cited as the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 . June 12, 2025 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
Where it is
In the House.