Members urge stronger support for military families: child care, housing allowances, DCIP and medical research funding

Several House members used member day to press the House Armed Services Committee to address affordability and health research for military families in the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act.

Representatives emphasized four linked priorities: better relocation and child‑care guidance, higher pay or locality protections for service members, increased authorization for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) to fund off‑base infrastructure that supports readiness, and restoration or enhancement of funding for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP).

Representative Randall (member day witness) asked the committee to include a bill requiring the Department of Defense to provide standardized, accessible relocation guidance at least 45 days before a permanent change of station, to help military‑connected students and families transfer credits and access services. She also urged increasing DCIP authorization after noting that only 14 DCIP projects were funded in FY24 under the current $100 million authorization and said demand remained high for off‑base infrastructure projects such as water systems, schools and multimodal connections for students and workers commuting to bases.

Representative Shrier (member day witness) focused on child care workers’ wages and childcare fee assistance. She urged higher pay for military‑operated childcare workers and continued investment in childcare fee assistance, arguing low pay pushes workers toward civilian jobs and reduces child care availability on and near installations. She also asked for ZIP‑code level data on child care needs and fee assistance utilization, saying current reporting is only at the state level and does not capture local gaps.

Shrier also criticized large cuts to CDMRP in the continuing resolution, saying the program was funded at $650 million for FY25—a reported 57% reduction in available funding from prior levels—and that reductions eliminated more than 20 research programs including spinal cord injury and cancer projects. She urged the committee to reverse those cuts in FY26 NDAA work.

Members did not hold votes or issue formal directions during the member‑day remarks. Committee leadership asked staff to follow up with members on specific authorization levels and implementation details.