Newhouse Votes to Fully Fund VA, Veterans Services

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement upon passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Related Agencies Appropriations Act by the House of Representatives. 

"Our veterans represent the best of us as Americans. My colleagues and I are keeping our promise to support the brave men and women who have served our country. We owe them a strong VA for health care, mental health services, and resources needed to end veteran homelessness," said Rep. Newhouse.  

Newhouse continues, "We also make strategic investments into our military infrastructure and provide critical funding to the Indo-Pacific region to counter the growing threat from the Chinese Communist Party." 

"I thank Subcommittee Chairman Carter and Full Committee Chairman Cole for their leadership as we continue to provide resources for our veterans through the Appropriations Committee." 

The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $152.091 billion, which is nearly $5 billion (3%) above the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level. 

The bill includes critical investments in military infrastructure that support readiness and the military families that utilize them. In addition, the bill provides $300 billion for mandatory programs, for a total of $453 billion in overall funding.

Department of Veterans Affairs 

• Provides $452.64 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is $82.6 billion above the FY25 enacted level.
• Fully funds veterans’ medical care at $131.4 billion, which is equal to the FY26 Budget
  Request.
• Fully funds veterans’ benefits and toxic exposures-related needs for FY26. $52.67
  billion for the Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF).
• Includes $970 for the Bridging Rental Assistance for Veteran Empowerment
  program, an innovative effort to end veteran homelessness. 

Department of Defense (Military Construction and Family Housing)  

Provides $18 billion for the Department of Defense (DoD) military construction and family housing, which is $480 million above the FY25 enacted level.  

• $75 million above the enacted level for planning and design of future barracks to address 
  barrack deficiencies identified by the Government Accountability Office.
• $110 million above the enacted level for construction improvements in DoD laboratories, 
  supporting United States technological superiority and DoD innovation.
• $75 million above the enacted level for the demolition of excess and obsolete infrastructure, saving taxpayers money and lowering long-term facility maintenance costs at DoD.
• Continues robust prior year funding of the INDOPACOM minor military construction program and increases funding for INDOPACOM planning and design.
• Continues support for the Guard and Reserve with over $1.2 billion for Guard and Reserve facility construction.
• $2 billion for Military Family Housing.
• $75 million above the enacted level for child development centers to improve the quality of life of military families.

See full bill text here. 

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