House Advances Bipartisan 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Funding Bill
After DeLauro-Led Amendment Passed in Full Committee Markup, VA Secretary Agreed to Testify
Legislation Includes $53 Billion in Democratic-Led Funding to Support the Toxic Exposures Fund
WASHINGTON – Today, the House passed the 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies funding bill.
During the House Appropriations Committee markup, Democrats were successful in amending Republicans’ draft bill to fulfill the PACT Act promises made to veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. In addition to fully funding the Toxic Exposures Fund, Democrats on the Committee also successfully amended the bill to withhold 25 percent of the budget of the Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs until he testifies before both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Following the passage of this amendment, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins agreed to testify before the House Appropriations Committee.
“I was proud to work to achieve this bipartisan vote today after working closely with Subcommittee Chairman Carter, and Committee Ranking Member DeLauro and Chairman Cole to ensure it makes vital investments in veterans' healthcare, refurbishes neglected barracks, adds robust funding to clean up environmental contamination and funds child development centers our servicemembers and their families need. Critically, it also honors a commitment to veterans exposed to toxic chemicals and substances. No, it's not perfect. There are still inadequate allocations, it underfunds military construction, and it fails our NATO allies. And while Democrats were able to kill several poison pills in the end, it includes language I oppose that blocks the VA from reporting certain veterans to the National Instant Criminal Background Check system. We're also still passing this bill in the dark. Both because we don't know how badly underfunded other budget bills will be that may harm veterans, or what kind of massive defense spending hikes are on the way,” Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25) said. “Despite all that, this bipartisan bill, in which we worked together to eliminate unrelated and culture war riders included in previous fiscal years, avoids the painful, broad cuts Democrats oppose, and it fully funds healthcare for veterans. It also ensures consistent funding by advance funding the Toxic Exposures Fund under the PACT Act. Overall, this bill reflects an increasingly rare, across-the-aisle delivery of critical healthcare, services and housing our veterans and servicemembers deserve. I will continue to work with my colleagues to improve this bill throughout the rest of the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations process.”
Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz’s floor remarks are here.
“Today’s vote shows that when Democrats and Republicans work together, we can pass funding bills on time that address the needs of hardworking Americans. This bipartisan bill increases our investments in Veterans Medical Care. Itboosts funding for Suicide Prevention and Treatment Programs; Rural Health and Substance Use Disorder Programs; and women’s healthcare – helping to ensure the women who have served our country can get the care they need,” Appropriations Committee Ranking Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. “Through negotiations, Democrats were able to secure $53 billion in advance funding for the Toxic Exposure Fund, enabling us to keep the commitments we made to our veterans when we passed the PACT Act. We were also able to reach an agreement on a provision to withhold 25 percent of the budget for the office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs until he comes to testify before both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Since this amendment passed during the full committee markup, the Secretary has agreed to testify. This shows that Congress has power to ensure the Trump administration responds to the concerns of the people we represent. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in the Senate and across the aisle to improve this bill even further during conference negotiations and provide the brave men and women who have served our country in uniform with the resources and care they deserve.”
Congresswoman DeLauro’s floor remarks are here.
A summary of the bill is here. The text and accompanying report of the legislation, before action on the House Floor, is available here. Information on Community Project Funding in the bill is here.
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