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Appropriations Committee advances FY2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs bill amid sharp debate on VA staffing, privatization and community care
Summary
The House Appropriations Committee advanced the fiscal 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies bill after a contentious full-committee markup marked by disputes over VA staffing, a large increase in funding for private community care and whether to advance-fund the PACT Act toxic-exposure fund.
The House Appropriations Committee advanced the fiscal year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies bill after an extended markup that featured wide-ranging debate over veterans health care, military construction funding and the administration’s personnel actions at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Committee leaders adopted the manager’s package and several amendments and reported the bill to the House by recorded vote.
The bill as presented funds VA medical care, military construction projects and related programs, but generated sustained opposition from Democrats and some Republicans who said the text shifts too much funding to private community care rather than investing in VA-run health services. Democrats repeatedly warned the committee that the measure would accelerate privatisation goals described in external planning documents and would not guarantee funding for the Toxic Exposure Fund established by the PACT Act unless members adopted additional language.
The markup included several recorded votes and amendments. The committee adopted…
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