Ranking Member DeLauro Statement at the Subcommittee Markup of the 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill

WASHINGTON — Today, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies advanced the fiscal year 2027 spending bill. House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) delivered the following remarks:

Thank you so much Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Wasserman-Schultz, and to my counterpart on the full committee, Chairman Cole. I want to say to the chair and ranking member of the subcommittee that your collaboration is a model for how we should proceed and move forward. It’s a way in which we make progress. It’s the way the Appropriations Committee should function.

I thank you for preserving the goal and the mission of the Appropriations Committee and its work. I mean that very, very sincerely. And also hats off to the staff because they do a hell of a job, on both sides of the aisle, so thank you.

We have a moral responsibility to take care of our veterans and servicemembers. It is part of our job in Congress, and on this Committee, to make sure that their devotion to our country is matched by their country’s devotion to them.

The bill before us this morning makes progress to that end in certain regards, and yes I believe in other areas it falls short.

It does not honor our commitments under the PACT Act to advance fund heath care for veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals in the line of duty, adds uncertainty and instability to their access to quality care. Nor does the bill keep our commitment to our NATO allies, falling short of what we promised for NATO’s infrastructure program. Also there are also several divisive policy riders in this bill, which I oppose.

However, the bill also contains a number of positive provisions which I support. I am glad that this bill increases funding for Suicide Prevention and Treatment Programs, including suicide prevention outreach. Although progress has been made, the veteran suicide rate remains higher than the population at large, and it is clear we must do more to address what is a tragic situation.

I am also supportive of the increase in funding for Rural Health and Substance Use Disorder Programs, which provide much needed support for veterans across the country.

And I am glad to see that this bill increases funding for women’s healthcare, helping to ensure the women who have served our country can get the care they need.

Overall, the bill increases funding for the VA by more than $4 billion, including a $6.5 billion increase to Veterans Medical Care. These are important resources that will go a long way to supporting the brave men and women who have served this country and served us gallantly.

This is only the first stage of this bill, and I look forward to continuing to work with our colleagues to address some of the issues that still remain. I thank you and I yield back.