Carter Remarks at Rules Committee Hearing on H.R. 3944, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

June 23, 2025
Remarks

Thank you, Chairwoman Foxx, Ranking Member McGovern, and members of the Committee for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the fiscal year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies appropriations bill. 

I want to thank Appropriations Committee Chairman Cole for his leadership in getting this bill through Committee. I also want to recognize the Ranking Member of the Full Committee, Ms. DeLauro, and the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Ms. Wasserman-Schultz, for their help in getting us to this point. I value my relationship with Ms. Wasserman-Schultz and as I have said before while I know we don’t agree on everything in the bill, we do agree on the importance of taking care of those who sacrifice so much for us. 

This is a special bill because it supports our troops, their families and the Nation’s veterans.  For fiscal year 2026, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies bill’s discretionary allocation is $152 billion, a $5 billion, or nearly 3.5%, increase from fiscal year 2025.  I want to briefly highlight some of the priorities this bill addresses:

  • Fully funds veterans’ healthcare.
  • Provides an advance for the Toxic Exposures Fund.
  • Includes $943 million for medical and prosthetic research.
  • Addresses longstanding concerns of mental health and homelessness among veteran populations.
  • Includes nearly $18 billion for military construction, a $470 million increase over Fiscal Year 2025.
  • This bill increases investments to address barrack deficiencies, bolsters investments in DoD laboratories, assists in demolishing obsolete infrastructure and provides $2 billion in military housing. 

In closing, this bill supports those who have sacrificed for our country and maintains our commitment to the well-being of both service members and veterans. I look forward to working with all of you as the bill moves forward. Again, I want to thank you for considering amendments to this bill from Members on both sides of the aisle. 

I appreciate your time and the opportunity to testify today. 

I yield back.

Logo