Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Chairman John Carter
HT-2 The Capitol
(202) 225-3047
Majority | Minority |
| John Carter – Chair | Debbie Wasserman Schultz – Ranking Member |
| John Rutherford | Sanford Bishop, Jr. |
| Michael Guest | Veronica Escobar |
| Ryan Zinke | Mike Levin |
| Stephanie Bice | Henry Cuellar |
| Scott Franklin | |
| Mark Alford – Vice Chair | |
| Nick LaLota |
Recent Activity
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.
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill. The bill will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow, June 5th at 10:00 a.m.
Good morning. I want to thank all of you for coming to today’s hearing to receive testimony from our colleagues. I look forward to hearing more about the projects, programs and issues in the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill that are important to your district and to communities across the country.
Your input is critical as we work to fund the agencies under this Subcommittee’s jurisdiction. I look forward to working with Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz and our Subcommittee colleagues to accommodate these priorities as best we can as the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process moves forward. Thank you again for taking time to speak with us today and bring these important issues in your community to our attention.
Ms. Wasserman Schultz, I yield to you for any opening remarks you’d like to make.
Thank you, Chairman Carter and Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz, and thank you, Secretary Collins, for being with us today.
We owe our freedoms to our veteran heroes, and that includes the over 285,000 veterans who make Oklahoma their home. The mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs remains to fulfill America’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors. No one in this room will contest how critically important that is. However, in meeting that duty, I think we can also all agree there are areas where VA is falling short and services can be improved.
The status quo is not cutting it, and I wish to recognize your initiative to address this.
Mr. Secretary, good morning. Thank you for joining us today. Congratulations on your confirmation and your first appearance testifying before our subcommittee.
We value the opportunity to engage in an open and productive dialogue with you as we work together to strengthen the Department’s mission.
We are here today to discuss the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. In the beginning of May, we received a skinny budget that outlined what the Department’s top priorities will be. While the overview was brief, I’m looking forward to hearing more details today—like how these priorities will translate into improved outcomes for our veterans and more effective management across the Department.
