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Good morning. The Subcommittee will come to order. I want to welcome everyone to the Subcommittee Markup of the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. I am pleased to be joined by our Subcommittee Ranking Member, Mr. Bishop, Full Committee Chairman Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, and the Members of the Subcommittee.
Thank you, Chairman Carter, and thank you to Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz, Ranking Member DeLauro, and to all the members of the subcommittee for being here.
This morning’s first measure is the first appropriations bill we will consider for Fiscal Year 2026. I echo my good friend Judge Carter’s comments about this bill. It honors our commitment to those who’ve worn America’s uniform and supports our military and their loved ones. By providing critical funding for military bases and improving housing for our troops and their families, we are ensuring that our national defense needs are met both at home and abroad.
We are also upholding our pledge to our veterans. This bill fully funds health care and benefits for those who have honorably served. They upheld their sacred oath to us—and now a grateful nation is keeping our promise to them.
Welcome to the subcommittee markup of the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Welcome Chairman Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, and Ranking Member Wasserman-Schultz.
I am pleased to present the fiscal year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill today. I know the process to this point has been a little non-traditional, but it is important that we do our jobs as appropriators and get moving on this critical legislation. I recognize as this process unfolds and we receive further documentation on the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, we will take it under consideration including those proposals aimed at improving efficiencies.
I would like to thank Director Vought for being here today. The Office of Management and Budget, or OMB, plays a central role in most of the decisions made in the Executive Branch, particularly as it relates to the federal budget.
It’s also important to remember that OMB is an office created by Congress. In 1921, the Congress passed the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, which created the Bureau of the Budget under the Department of the Treasury. Later in 1939, in the Reorganization Act of 1939, the Bureau was relocated to the newly created Executive Office of the President. And, in 1970, Congress approved the Bureau’s renaming to the Office of Management and Budget.
