MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2027

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Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026)] [House] [Pages H3486-H3505] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1430 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2027 General Leave Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 8469 and that it may include tabular material on the same. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas? There was no objection. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1275 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill (H.R. 8469). The Chair appoints the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Fine) to preside over the Committee of the Whole. {time} 1432 In the Committee of the Whole Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill (H.R. 8469) making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes, with Mr. Fine in the chair. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The CHAIR. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the first time. General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed 1 hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees. The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) each will control 30 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas. Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to present the fiscal year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill to the House today. This bill supports our troops, their families, and our Nation's veterans. I thank the Committee on Appropriations chairman (Mr. Cole) for his leadership in advancing this bill through the committee, and I recognize and [[Page H3487]] thank the ranking member for the full committee (Ms. DeLauro) and the ranking member for the subcommittee (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) for their partnership in bringing us to this point. I especially value my working relationship with Ms. Wasserman Schultz. We have worked together on this bill for some time. While we may not agree on everything, we certainly agree on the importance of caring for those who sacrifice so much for our country. This bill is not perfect, and compromises were made on both sides. Even so, the legislation before us today received unanimous support in the committee. I greatly appreciate the bipartisan effort of everyone involved. Those efforts demonstrate that bipartisanship is not only possible, it can lead to meaningful legislative success. No matter our ideological differences, we can all agree that the importance of supporting our troops, their families, and the Nation's veterans is very important. For fiscal year 2027, the Military Construction, Veteran Affairs, and Related Agencies bill provides a discretionary allocation of $157 billion. I will briefly highlight several key priorities included in the legislation. It fully funds veterans' healthcare. It provides an advanced appropriation for the Toxic Exposures Fund. It includes $900 million for medical and prosthetic research. It prioritizes mental health, suicide prevention, and homelessness programs. It includes more than $19 billion for military construction. It invests in barracks improvements, strengthens investment in the Department of Defense laboratories, supports the demolition of obsolete infrastructure, and provides nearly $2 billion for military housing. In closing, this bill honors those who sacrifice for our country and reaffirms our commitment to the well-being of both servicemembers and veterans. It supports our troops and cares for veterans and their families and upholds the promises we made to those of our Nation. I hope this bill will receive the same strong bipartisan support on the House floor that it received in committee because it is what our veterans deserve. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8469, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise in tentative support of H.R. 8469, the fiscal year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill. The past few years, the MILCON-VA bill strayed from our tradition of being one of the few appropriations bills that traditionally had bipartisan support. Our committee has a shared goal of supporting our servicemembers, veterans, and their families no matter who holds the majority. We are proud to report that as the bill stands, this is a bipartisan bill--one that we reported out of full committee 58-0. However, it saddens me to see that the majority has made in order amendments that stray from the bipartisan commitment that both Chair Carter and I have maintained. To be clear, if any of the controversial amendments made in order are adopted, we will not be able to support this bill, and all the bipartisan work that we did to get this bill to this stage will all have been for naught. What a message we could send about our ability to work together if the House rejects these controversial amendments and votes to support the MILCON-VA bill--controversial amendments that really have nothing to do with protecting and preserving the quality of life of our servicemembers on Active Duty or our veterans--for a critical bill that supports our servicemembers and those who served our country honorably. To be clear, we have already made compromises on this bill. This is not the bill that I would have written. The bill includes a policy rider that prohibits the VA from reporting a beneficiary--for example, that has been deemed mentally incompetent based on medical evidence and, therefore, is assigned a fiduciary to handle their finances--to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Not only is this a violation of current law, but it will only put more veterans in harm's way. Additionally, I opposed the funding level for the NATO Security Investment Program, which is $122 million below the request level. Now, more than ever, we should be reinforcing deterrence with the help of our European allies who disproportionately fund this program, especially as the war in Ukraine continues. I was able to put these concerns aside, as were my Democratic colleagues on the subcommittee and the full committee, and support this bill because that is what bipartisanship requires. As I told the Committee on Rules, Mr. Chairman, sometimes we have to compromise on what our preferences might be. You never compromise on principle; but to achieve a greater good, which this bill absolutely represents, sometimes you swallow hard and you look past some things not being exactly the way you would have preferred. {time} 1440 So today we will consider an amendment that bans funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion at the VA as well because there are problematic amendments that have been made in order beyond just the language in the current underlying bill. We are worried that we will tip the scales from bipartisanship into partisanship. The Supreme Court's decision to overturn the Voting Rights Act and swift action taken in southern States to disenfranchise Black voters proves that we have always needed to lean in on ensuring there is diversity, equity, and inclusion. We will not allow this attack on communities of color to continue, and we will strongly oppose this amendment if it is offered. The amendment does nothing to help veterans and is divisive, partisan, and unnecessary. Along these same lines, there is an amendment that attacks Filipino World War II veterans, veterans that fought for us and with us, resulting in one of the greatest victories in our history. I want to be clear here. The Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund exists to correct what was a racist decision made in 1946 that banned Filipino veterans from receiving compensation for their service in World War II. That is why the word ``equity'' exists in the title of this account. There is also a messaging amendment on gender-affirming care for veterans. I hope that is not offered, but regardless of how you feel about the LGBT community, it is ridiculous to block a veteran from receiving the healthcare that they have earned. It is disappointing that we are at this point, and I hope that throughout the rest of this process we can come together to defeat these amendments. I do want to underscore that Judge Carter and I could not possibly have a better working relationship, and we have worked hand in glove to reach this point, and I think I can safely speak for both of us that we hope we can achieve the same outcome we were able to achieve in the full Appropriations Committee. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Womack). Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Chair, I thank my friend, Judge Carter, and the ranking member, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, for giving us an example of what true bipartisanship looks like. I mean, to get a bill out of committee on a unanimous vote, as a fellow cardinal, I am a bit envious. I am not near naive enough to believe that my T-HUD bill is going to enjoy the same fate, but congratulations to them. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this MILCON-VA bill. It is a good day for the House, Mr. Chairman, and an even better day for the American people because we are considering the first full year FY27 appropriations bill in the month of May. Good for us. This is what a return to regular order should look like. This is how the annual appropriations process is supposed to work. Committee members from both parties debating, negotiating, and working in good faith to fund bills on time and responsibly. We wouldn't be here today without the leadership of our overall chairman, Tom Cole, and his ranker, Rosa DeLauro. Their dedication and commitment to re-engineering this process [[Page H3488]] is paving the way for the House to pass all 12 full-year funding bills for fiscal year `26 and to do it on time. I sure hope the Senate is listening to this debate. There is some unfinished business, and we will roll up our sleeves, and we will get this work done. House appropriators have advanced five full-year funding bills through committee. This is a credit to the hard work, discipline, and bipartisanship of our committee. Mr. Chairman, the bill I speak in support of today, the FY27 MILCON- VA bill, is a good bill, and I know it is going to go through the process here on the floor, and I hope the outcome is that we can get it finished, get it approved, and get it to the Senate. Its passage will set our military and veterans up for success while also sustaining our momentum to fulfill Congress' Article I responsibility on time. Let's get a ``yes'' vote out of this thing. Congratulations to both of you. Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee. Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I thank the ranking member for yielding and for all of her hard work on this bill. Again, I congratulate Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz and Judge Carter for the work they have done on this piece of legislation. I thank the committee staff, Farouk Ophaso and Tyler Coe for the minority side, Justin Masucci, Jason Wheelock, and Arianna Delgado for the majority, for all the good work that they put in here. We began with a bill that fell short. It did not provide adequate support for our veterans, but after some tough negotiating by Democrats on the Appropriations Committee, especially Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz, our colleagues across the aisle agreed to make some much- needed improvements. Through these negotiations, Democrats were able to secure more than $50 billion in advance funding for the Toxic Exposures Fund, enabling us to keep our commitments to our veterans when we passed the PACT Act. We were also able to reach an agreement on the 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, reasserting Congress' power of the purse. With these improvements, we were able to arrive at an agreement that passed out of the Appropriations Committee by a vote of 58-0. That is a testament to the exceptional work of the members of the subcommittee and the committee, and it demonstrates that when Republicans are willing to work with us to address our concerns, we are more than happy to support reasonable proposals that meet the needs of the American people. This bill in its current form increases 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 that they need. It boosts funding for the VA by more than $4 billion and increases our investments in veterans' medical care by $6.5 billion. These are important resources that will go a long way to supporting the men and women who have served our country in uniform. It is not a perfect bill as it stands, but it is a good bill. It is the product of good-faith, bipartisan negotiations. It is evidence that even in an era of division, Congress can still find common ground to deliver for the American people. However, several amendments have been offered by Republicans who do not sit on the Appropriations Committee. They are attempting to inject hyperpartisan culture-war provisions into the bill and upend the bipartisan agreement that we made. Despite hours of painstaking but good-faith negotiations by members of the committee to find common ground on a bill to deliver for our veterans, these amendments, which are an exercise in political bomb- throwing, not serious legislating, would undermine the real work of the committee, the committee which has done so much to support our Nation's veterans, our servicemembers. These are partisan theatrics the American people are tired of. People want to see the Congress work together to solve their problems, and on the Appropriations Committee, we did just that. Last-minute intervention from Members who do not sit on the committee is counterproductive and only serves to sour the process for the future. Why would we agree to anything in committee moving forward if we know that as soon as it comes to the floor, it will be loaded up with poison pills designed to punch up a press release rather than serious provisions meant to solve the problems facing the American people. I encourage my colleagues to stick to the strong agreement that was forged on a bipartisan basis by the members of this subcommittee and the members of the committee and reject a shallow, toxic partisanship that has infected so much of our politics today. I thank the chair and ranking member and all of my colleagues on the committee for their hard work. {time} 1450 Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Scott Franklin). Mr. SCOTT FRANKLIN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank Judge Carter for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the fiscal year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. As a veteran and member of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I understand the importance of supporting military readiness while ensuring that veterans receive the care and benefits that they have earned. This legislation fully funds veterans' healthcare and benefits, while strengthening mental health services, suicide prevention, and critical medical research programs relied upon by veterans across the country. It also invests in military construction projects that improve readiness, strengthen resiliency, and ensure our servicemembers have the needed infrastructure to meet growing global threats. This bill includes several priorities I worked to advance, including resiliency improvements at the United States Naval Academy to address recurrent flooding that threatens infrastructure, disrupts operations, and impacts the training environment for our future naval officers. It also strengthens research and treatment efforts for veterans facing Parkinson's disease and ALS; expands access to advanced care, treatment, and clinical trials; and supports modernization across the VA system, including cybersecurity protections and emerging technologies to improve early detection in patient care. This legislation also protects the Second Amendment rights of veterans by preventing the VA from sending veterans' information to the FBI without due process and a judicial determination. Mr. Chairman, this is a strong bill that supports readiness, strengthens care for our veterans, protects constitutional liberties, and keeps the Federal Government focused on its core responsibilities at a time of growing global threats. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Levin), a distinguished member of the Appropriations Committee and the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Chairman, I am so honored to represent the marines and sailors on Camp Pendleton, some of the most capable, disciplined, and battle-ready men and women that this Nation has ever produced, so when this Congress funds the military and our veterans, I take that responsibility very seriously. I am proud to be a member of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee and pleased that we were collectively able to put our servicemembers and our veterans over politics. That is how this work is supposed to get done, and this bill, as it stands, [[Page H3489]] is proof that it still can be. My thanks to the chairs and the ranking members for their hard work. Before serving on Appropriations, I served on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs for 6 years. During that time, we passed the Honoring our PACT Act and established the Toxic Exposure Fund because this country made a promise to our veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals while they served, and that promise doesn't expire regardless of what is happening here in Washington, D.C. I am so glad that this bill delivers on that promise with advanced funding for the Toxic Exposure Fund, and I am so proud of that bipartisan work as it continues. This bill also includes $2 million to implement the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act, or CVSO Act, a bipartisan bill that I led that was signed into law as part of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. Right now, out of 15.8 million veterans in this country, fewer than half are enrolled in VA healthcare. That is unacceptable. This funding will establish a grant program to help State and local governments hire and train more county veteran service officers. Those are people on the ground who are doing the work of connecting veterans to the care and benefits that they have earned. I supported this bill in committee, and I urge my colleagues to protect this bipartisan compromise and reject any amendments that would jeopardize it. While it is not perfect, as the bill stands, I am encouraged that, even in this moment, when we still come together across the aisle, we can do big things to serve our military and our veterans. Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), the chairman of the Appropriations Committee for the House of Representatives. Mr. COLE. Mr. Chairman, I thank my good friend, Judge Carter, for yielding the time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of our first fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill on the floor, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. This legislation reflects something that we have long understood from our founding: America's story has always been shaped by ordinary men and women who are willing to step forward and answer a call greater than themselves. A country worthy of sacrifice must also be worthy of the people who made that sacrifice, and our obligation to those who wear the uniform does not end when they return home and hang up their uniforms. This bill reflects that promise. We are delivering the support, resources, and readiness that make a real difference. You don't have to rely on my word. The substance of the funding is clear. We fully fund veteran healthcare and benefits. We prioritize critical mental health and suicide prevention efforts. We invest in improvements at VA facilities, military cemeteries, and monuments. At the same time, this measure reinforces our base posture from the ground up by investing in military construction, improving barracks, and ensuring that our installations are equipped to support readiness in an increasingly complex environment. From the Indo-Pacific to the commands here at home, strength and preparedness are not optional. We also recognize that a strong military is built not only by those on the front lines but by the loved ones who support them through every sacrifice. That is why this bill supports family housing, childcare, and quality-of-life needs for military families. Put simply, this legislation strengthens the full foundation of American security through care for our veterans, capabilities for our bases, and construction that supports readiness for the future. Chairman Carter's work reflects the seriousness that these responsibilities demand and the lasting commitments we owe to those who serve. Together with Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz, he wrote a bill that earned unanimous support in our full committee because its priorities are grounded in supporting the best of our Nation. The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Smucker). The time of the gentleman has expired. Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Oklahoma. Mr. COLE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding additional time. At a time when Americans too often only hear about division and dysfunction, this strong and bipartisan proposal demonstrates that support for our veterans, troops, and military families can still unite this institution around a common purpose. Voting ``yes'' is a statement that America does not forget those who answered the call to defend her. Mr. Chair, again, I thank Chairman Carter and Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz for their leadership on this measure and urge all Members to join me in supporting the bill's final passage. Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Escobar), who represents Fort Bliss and is a member of the Appropriations Committee and the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. Ms. ESCOBAR. Mr. Chairman, as the proud Representative of the great military installation of Fort Bliss, Texas, and as a member of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I thank Chairman Carter and Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz not just for their work on this bill but for being champions of bipartisan collaboration. I am so grateful to the both of them for that. While this is not a perfect bill, it does make real progress. The bill advances my provisions supporting reforms and innovation to help modernize a military construction process that is far too slow and rigid for today's military. The needs we have for military construction are far greater than the resources available, and I am deeply committed to reforming this process so that we can stretch those dollars even further. This bill also supports planning for a new headquarters for the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command at Fort Bliss, whose aging facilities no longer match its global mission. On the VA side, I am pleased that this bill includes my own legislation to ensure oversight of the activation planning of the VA medical center being built in El Paso, right next to William Beaumont Army Medical Center. I was proud to help secure the $700 million to build this great facility, and I am committed to ensuring that it delivers world-class healthcare for veterans on day one. While I am disappointed that the bill still contains a partisan provision that weakens gun background check protections for veterans that I do not agree with, the final product is still a thoughtful, bipartisan one, and I support it in its current form. I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Alford). Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Chairman, I thank Judge Carter and Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz for their leadership on this. Mr. Chairman, I tell you what. It is a very rare moment to come on the House floor where we have a committee that has voted unanimously for a bill, and I compliment our leaders for getting this done. It was a great moment a couple of weeks ago when that passed out of committee. I think we were all surprised at ourselves by this unanimous vote. The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act is about one thing, and that is keeping our promises--our promises to our veterans, our servicemembers, and their families. {time} 1500 I also want to thank my friends, Chairman Cole and Subcommittee Chairman Carter, as I have done, and also our ranking member of the full committee, my good friend Rosa DeLauro for all their hard work. I was proud to help move this bill forward, and I am even prouder that it really does deliver real wins for the American [[Page H3490]] people and for the great State of Missouri. We are fully funding veterans healthcare and benefits, and that means no delays and no excuses. It means access to care, expanded mental health services, and continued investment in suicide prevention. A lot of places I go around my district and in Missouri, people want us to provide these services through the VA, and we are. We are also strengthening the Community Care program, giving veterans more flexibility to get the specialized care they need when and where they need it. For our servicemembers and military families, this bill invests in what matters most: safe housing, better barracks, childcare facilities that improve everyday life, and the quality of care that we have been talking about in this Congress. Importantly, we are restoring accountability and protecting freedoms. We are ensuring veterans' Second Amendment rights are not undermined while stopping taxpayer dollars from going to Communist China. On the national security front, this bill makes critical investment in military construction, especially in the Indo-Pacific, so that the U.S. remains strong and prepared and always ahead of our adversaries. Mr. Chair, this didn't happen by accident. It took hard work. It took focus, and it took a commitment, a commitment in our committee not to put us first but to put the American people first. This is not about results, not rhetoric. It is results for our veterans, results for our military families, and results for the security of the United States of America. I urge my colleagues to join us in what we did in our committee. Let's have a unanimous vote in the House today for the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Let's get this done. Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I am ready to close, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I am prepared to close, as well, and I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chair, I am very proud that we were able to pass this bill out of the full Appropriations Committee 58-0. I know Judge Carter and I are equally proud of that. This is legislation that, as you have heard, does fully fund healthcare for our Nation's veterans. It ensures--and we worked together on this--that veterans who get healthcare services through the PACT Act are able to have advanced funding to ensure continuity, regardless of the actions here in this body, for continued funding for their healthcare as a result of toxic exposure during their service, and now we have advanced funding for the Toxic Exposures Fund as well. We added $15 million in prevention to make sure that we could have resiliency for our servicemembers because they are consistently now subject to the impacts of natural disasters, and it provides additional investments in child development centers and barracks, which are both areas of bipartisan concern. We are looking forward to the amendment process in which we can hopefully continue the bipartisan cooperation. I want to thank Ranking Member DeLauro and Chairman Cole for their leadership. They are true leaders that we are fortunate to be able to work under. I also thank the team of professionals that I rely on: Farouk Ophaso, Tyler Coe, and Steven Goodall. I support this bill in its current form, but I have serious concerns, again, about the controversial amendments that we will be considering later today and tomorrow. I want to repeat, if any of those controversial amendments are added to this bill, it risks losing support from our side of the aisle. I hope we can come together. We already are together. I hope we can remain together in the name of bipartisanship and in service to our veterans and servicemembers to pass this bill with overwhelming support. We can only do that by keeping divisive, unnecessary, unrelated provisions out of the bill. I, again, thank Judge Carter for his partnership and his friendship, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. In closing, I ask my colleagues to support the fiscal year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. This legislation provides critical funding for military bases, improves housing for our troops and their families, and makes investments aimed at improving the quality of life for our servicemembers. It also upholds our pledge to our veterans. This bill fully funds healthcare for veterans and benefits for those who have honorably served. This bill was drafted on a bipartisan basis with a shared priority of taking care of those who cared for us. Today, I ask my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Hurd of Colorado). All time for general debate has expired. Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment under the 5-minute rule. The bill shall be considered as read. The text of the bill is as follows: H. R. 8469 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes, namely: TITLE I DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Military Construction, Army For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of temporary or permanent public works, military installations, facilities, and real property for the Army as currently authorized by law, including personnel in the Army Corps of Engineers and other personal services necessary for the purposes of this appropriation, and for construction and operation of facilities in support of the functions of the Commander in Chief, $2,131,959,000, to remain available until September 30, 2031: Provided, That, of this amount, not to exceed $298,588,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, architect and engineer services, and host nation support, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of the Army determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $108,000,000 shall be for the projects and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the table under the heading ``Military Construction, Army'' in the report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes. Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of temporary or permanent public works, naval installations, facilities, and real property for the Navy and Marine Corps as currently authorized by law, including personnel in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command and other personal services necessary for the purposes of this appropriation, $5,508,034,000, to remain available until September 30, 2031: Provided, That, of this amount, not to exceed $559,783,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of the Navy determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $73,000,000 shall be for the projects and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the table under the heading ``Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'' in the report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes. Military Construction, Air Force For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of temporary or permanent public works, military installations, facilities, and real property for the Air Force as currently authorized by law, including personnel in the Department of the Air Force when designated by the Secretary of Defense to direct and supervise Military Construction projects in accordance with section 2851 of title 10, United States Code, and other personal services necessary for the purposes of this appropriation, $3,712,473,000, to remain available until September 30, 2031: Provided, That, of this amount, not to exceed $519,223,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of the Air Force determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $141,000,000 [[Page H3491]] shall be for the projects and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the table under the heading ``Military Construction, Air Force'' in the report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes. Military Construction, Defense-Wide (including transfer of funds) For acquisition, construction, installation, and equipment of temporary or permanent public works, installations, facilities, and real property for activities and agencies of the Department of Defense (other than the military departments), as currently authorized by law, $3,757,301,000, to remain available until September 30, 2031: Provided, That such amounts of this appropriation as may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may be transferred to such appropriations of the Department of Defense available for military construction or family housing as the Secretary may designate, to be merged with and to be available for the same purposes, and for the same time period, as the appropriation or fund to which transferred: Provided further, That, of the amount, not to exceed $221,001,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of Defense determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $55,000,000 shall be for the projects and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the table under the heading ``Military Construction, Defense- Wide'' in the report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes. Military Construction, Army National Guard For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the Army National Guard, and contributions therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $198,380,000, to remain available until September 30, 2031: Provided, That, of the amount, not to exceed $73,646,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Director of the Army National Guard determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $27,500,000 shall be for the projects and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the table under the heading ``Military Construction, Army National Guard'' in the report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes. Military Construction, Air National Guard For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the Air National Guard, and contributions therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $291,264,000, to remain available until September 30, 2031: Provided, That, of the amount, not to exceed $38,264,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Director of the Air National Guard determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $38,500,000 shall be for the projects and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the table under the heading ``Military Construction, Air National Guard'' in the report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes. Military Construction, Army Reserve For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the Army Reserve as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $42,239,000, to remain available until September 30, 2031: Provided, That, of the amount, not to exceed $6,013,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Army Reserve determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading, $1,710,000 shall be for the projects and activities, and in the amounts, specified in the table under the heading ``Military Construction, Army Reserve'' in the report accompanying this Act, in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes. Military Construction, Navy Reserve For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the reserve components of the Navy and Marine Corps as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $2,255,000, to remain available until September 30, 2031: Provided, That, of the amount, not to exceed $2,255,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Secretary of the Navy determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor. Military Construction, Air Force Reserve For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilitation, and conversion of facilities for the training and administration of the Air Force Reserve as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $60,458,000, to remain available until September 30, 2031: Provided, That, of the amount, not to exceed $270,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services, as authorized by law, unless the Chief of the Air Force Reserve determines that additional obligations are necessary for such purposes and notifies the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the determination and the reasons therefor. North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program For the United States share of the cost of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program for the acquisition and construction of military facilities and installations (including international military headquarters) and for related expenses for the collective defense of the North Atlantic Treaty Area as authorized by section 2806 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Construction Authorization Acts, $481,832,000, to remain available until expended. Department of Defense Base Closure Account For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure Account, established by section 2906(a) of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note), $465,161,000, to remain available until expended. Family Housing Construction, Army For expenses of family housing for the Army for construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, $228,558,000, to remain available until September 30, 2031. Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Army For expenses of family housing for the Army for operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized by law, $388,418,000. Family Housing Construction, Navy and Marine Corps For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine Corps for construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, $177,597,000, to remain available until September 30, 2031. Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Navy and Marine Corps For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Marine Corps for operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized by law, $384,108,000. Family Housing Construction, Air Force For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, $274,230,000, to remain available until September 30, 2031. Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, minor construction, principal and interest charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized by law, $369,765,000. Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide For expenses of family housing for the activities and agencies of the Department of Defense (other than the military departments) for operation and maintenance, leasing, and minor construction, as authorized by law, $52,156,000. Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund For the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund, $8,315,000, to remain available until expended, for family housing initiatives undertaken pursuant to section 2883 of title 10, United States Code, providing alternative means of acquiring and improving military family housing and supporting facilities. Department of Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund For the Department of Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund, $497,000, to remain available until expended, for unaccompanied housing initiatives undertaken pursuant to section 2883 of title 10, United States Code, providing alternative means of acquiring and improving military [[Page H3492]] unaccompanied housing and supporting facilities. Administrative Provisions Sec. 101. None of the funds made available in this title shall be expended for payments under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract for construction, where cost estimates exceed $25,000, to be performed within the United States, except Alaska, without the specific approval in writing of the Secretary of Defense setting forth the reasons therefor. Sec. 102. Funds made available in this title for construction shall be available for hire of passenger motor vehicles. Sec. 103. Funds made available in this title for construction may be used for advances to the Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, for the construction of access roads as authorized by section 210 of title 23, United States Code, when projects authorized therein are certified as important to the national defense by the Secretary of Defense. Sec. 104. None of the funds made available in this title may be used to begin construction of new bases in the United States for which specific appropriations have not been made. Sec. 105. None of the funds made available in this title shall be used for purchase of land or land easements in excess of 100 percent of the value as determined by the Army Corps of Engineers or the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, except: (1) where there is a determination of value by a Federal court; (2) purchases negotiated by the Attorney General or the designee of the Attorney General; (3) where the estimated value is less than $25,000; or (4) as otherwise determined by the Secretary of Defense to be in the public interest. Sec. 106. None of the funds made available in this title shall be used to: (1) acquire land; (2) provide for site preparation; or (3) install utilities for any family housing, except housing for which funds have been made available in annual Acts making appropriations for military construction. Sec. 107. None of the funds made available in this title for minor construction may be used to transfer or relocate any activity from one base or installation to another, without prior notification to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. Sec. 108. None of the funds made available in this title may be used for the procurement of steel for any construction project or activity for which American steel producers, fabricators, and manufacturers have been denied the opportunity to compete for such steel procurement. Sec. 109. None of the funds available to the Department of Defense for military construction or family housing during the current fiscal year may be used to pay real property taxes in any foreign nation. Sec. 110. None of the funds made available in this title may be used to initiate a new installation overseas without prior notification to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. Sec. 111. None of the funds made available in this title may be obligated for architect and engineer contracts estimated by the Government to exceed $500,000 for projects to be accomplished in Japan, in any North Atlantic Treaty Organization member country, or in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, unless such contracts are awarded to United States firms or United States firms in joint venture with host nation firms. Sec. 112. None of the funds made available in this title for military construction in the United States territories and possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, may be used to award any contract estimated by the Government to exceed $1,000,000 to a foreign contractor: Provided, That this section shall not be applicable to contract awards for which the lowest responsive and responsible bid of a United States contractor exceeds the lowest responsive and responsible bid of a foreign contractor by greater than 20 percent: Provided further, That this section shall not apply to contract awards for military construction on Kwajalein Atoll for which the lowest responsive and responsible bid is submitted by a Marshallese contractor. Sec. 113. The Secretary of Defense shall inform the appropriate committees of both Houses of Congress, including the Committees on Appropriations, of plans and scope of any proposed military exercise involving United States personnel 30 days prior to its occurring, if amounts expended for construction, either temporary or permanent, are anticipated to exceed $100,000. Sec. 114. Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for construction in prior years shall be available for construction authorized for each such military department by the authorizations enacted into law during the current session of Congress. Sec. 115. For military construction or family housing projects that are being completed with funds otherwise expired or lapsed for obligation, expired or lapsed funds may be used to pay the cost of associated supervision, inspection, overhead, engineering and design on those projects and on subsequent claims, if any. Sec. 116. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any funds made available to a military department or defense agency for the construction of military projects may be obligated for a military construction project or contract, or for any portion of such a project or contract, at any time before the end of the fourth fiscal year after the fiscal year for which funds for such project were made available, if the funds obligated for such project: (1) are obligated from funds available for military construction projects; and (2) do not exceed the amount appropriated for such project, plus any amount by which the cost of such project is increased pursuant to law. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 117. Subject to 30 days prior notification, or 14 days for a notification provided in an electronic medium pursuant to sections 480 and 2883 of title 10, United States Code, to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, such additional amounts as may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may be transferred to: (1) the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund from amounts appropriated for construction in ``Family Housing'' accounts, to be merged with and to be available for the same purposes and for the same period of time as amounts appropriated directly to the Fund; or (2) the Department of Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund from amounts appropriated for construction of military unaccompanied housing in ``Military Construction'' accounts, to be merged with and to be available for the same purposes and for the same period of time as amounts appropriated directly to the Fund: Provided, That appropriations made available to the Funds shall be available to cover the costs, as defined in section 502(5) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct loans or loan guarantees issued by the Department of Defense pursuant to the provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 10, United States Code, pertaining to alternative means of acquiring and improving military family housing, military unaccompanied housing, and supporting facilities. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 118. In addition to any other transfer authority available to the Department of Defense, amounts may be transferred from the Department of Defense Base Closure Account to the fund established by section 1013(d) of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3374) to pay for expenses associated with the Homeowners Assistance Program incurred under 42 U.S.C. 3374(a)(1)(A). Any amounts transferred shall be merged with and be available for the same purposes and for the same time period as the fund to which transferred. Sec. 119. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds made available in this title for operation and maintenance of family housing shall be the exclusive source of funds for repair and maintenance of all family housing units, including general or flag officer quarters: Provided, That not more than $20,000 per unit may be spent annually for the maintenance and repair of any general or flag officer quarters without 30 days prior notification, or 14 days for a notification provided in an electronic medium pursuant to sections 480 and 2883 of title 10, United States Code, to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, except that an after-the-fact notification shall be submitted if the limitation is exceeded solely due to costs associated with environmental remediation that could not be reasonably anticipated at the time of the budget submission: Provided further, That the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) is to report annually to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress all operation and maintenance expenditures for each individual general or flag officer quarters for the prior fiscal year. Sec. 120. Amounts contained in the Ford Island Improvement Account established by subsection (h) of section 2814 of title 10, United States Code, are appropriated and shall be available until expended for the purposes specified in subsection (i)(1) of such section or until transferred pursuant to subsection (i)(3) of such section. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 121. During the 5-year period after appropriations available in this Act to the Department of Defense for military construction and family housing operation and maintenance and construction have expired for obligation, upon a determination that such appropriations will not be necessary for the liquidation of obligations or for making authorized adjustments to such appropriations for obligations incurred during the period of availability of such appropriations, unobligated balances of such appropriations may be transferred into the appropriation ``Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Construction, Defense'', to be merged with and to be available for the same time period and for the same purposes as the appropriation to which transferred. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 122. Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available in an account funded under the headings in this title may be transferred among projects and activities within the account in accordance with the reprogramming guidelines for military construction and family housing construction contained in Department of Defense Financial Management Regulation 7000.14-R, Volume 3, Chapter 7, of April 2021, as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act. Sec. 123. None of the funds made available in this title may be obligated or expended for planning and design and construction of projects at Arlington National Cemetery. Sec. 124. For an additional amount for the accounts and in the amounts specified, to remain available until September 30, 2031: [[Page H3493]] ``Military Construction, Army'', $150,000,000; ``Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'', $150,000,000; ``Military Construction, Air Force'', $150,000,000; and ``Military Construction, Defense Wide'', $50,000,000: Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to carry out construction and cost to complete projects identified in the respective military department's unfunded priority list for fiscal year 2027 submitted to Congress: Provided further, That such projects are subject to authorization prior to obligation and expenditure of funds to carry out construction: Provided further, That not later than 60 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the military department concerned, or their designee, shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan for funds provided under this section. Sec. 125. All amounts appropriated to the ``Department of Defense--Military Construction, Army'', ``Department of Defense--Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'', ``Department of Defense--Military Construction, Air Force'', and ``Department of Defense--Military Construction, Defense- Wide'' accounts pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in a National Defense Authorization Act specified for fiscal year 2027 in the funding table in section 4601 of that Act shall be immediately available and allotted to contract for the full scope of authorized projects. Sec. 126. Notwithstanding section 116 of this Act, funds made available in this Act or any available unobligated balances from prior appropriations Acts may be obligated before October 1, 2028 for fiscal year 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 military construction projects for which project authorization has not lapsed or for which authorization is extended for fiscal year 2027 by a National Defense Authorization Act: Provided, That no amounts may be obligated pursuant to this section from amounts that were designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Sec. 127. For an additional amount for the accounts and in the amounts specified for design for Military Installation Resilience, to remain available until September 30, 2031: ``Military Construction, Army'', $5,000,000; ``Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'', $5,000,000; and ``Military Construction, Air Force'', $5,000,000: Provided, That not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the military department concerned, or their designee, shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan for funds provided under this section. Sec. 128. For an additional amount for the accounts and in the amounts specified for design for child development centers, to remain available until September 30, 2031: ``Military Construction, Army'', $15,000,000; ``Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'', $15,000,000; and ``Military Construction, Air Force'', $15,000,000: Provided, That not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the military department concerned, or their designee, shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan for funds provided under this section. Sec. 129. For an additional amount for the accounts and in the amounts specified for design for barracks, to remain available until September 30, 2031: ``Military Construction, Army'', $15,000,000; ``Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'', $15,000,000; and ``Military Construction, Air Force'', $15,000,000: Provided, That not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the military department concerned, or their designee, shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan for funds provided under this section. Sec. 130. For an additional amount for the accounts and in the amounts specified for unspecified minor construction for demolition, to remain available until September 30, 2031: ``Military Construction, Army'', $20,000,000; ``Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'', $20,000,000; and ``Military Construction, Air Force'', $20,000,000: Provided, That not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the military department concerned, or their designee, shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan for funds provided under this section. Sec. 131. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to carry out the closure or realignment of the United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. TITLE II DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Veterans Benefits Administration compensation and pensions (including transfer of funds) For the payment of compensation benefits to or on behalf of veterans and a pilot program for disability examinations as authorized by section 107 and chapters 11, 13, 18, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code; pension benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by chapters 15, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code; and burial benefits, the Reinstated Entitlement Program for Survivors, emergency and other officers' retirement pay, adjusted- service credits and certificates, payment of premiums due on commercial life insurance policies guaranteed under the provisions of title IV of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 541 et seq.) and for other benefits as authorized by sections 107, 1312, 1977, and 2106, and chapters 23, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code, $10,555,052,000, which shall be in addition to funds previously appropriated under this heading that became available on October 1, 2026; $283,806,848,000, which shall become available on October 1, 2027, to remain available until expended: Provided, That not to exceed $32,324,190 of the amount made available for fiscal year 2028 under this heading shall be reimbursed to ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'', and ``Information Technology Systems'' for necessary expenses in implementing the provisions of chapters 51, 53, and 55 of title 38, United States Code, the funding source for which is specifically provided as the ``Compensation and Pensions'' appropriation: Provided further, That such sums as may be earned on an actual qualifying patient basis, shall be reimbursed to ``Medical Care Collections Fund'' to augment the funding of individual medical facilities for nursing home care provided to pensioners as authorized. readjustment benefits For the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by chapters 21, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 41, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code, $23,565,656,000, which shall become available on October 1, 2027, to remain available until expended: Provided, That expenses for rehabilitation program services and assistance which the Secretary is authorized to provide under subsection (a) of section 3104 of title 38, United States Code, other than under paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (11) of that subsection, shall be charged to this account. veterans insurance and indemnities For military and naval insurance, national service life insurance, servicemen's indemnities, service-disabled veterans insurance, and veterans mortgage life insurance as authorized by chapters 19 and 21 of title 38, United States Code, $90,892,830, which shall become available on October 1, 2027, to remain available until expended. veterans housing benefit program fund For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such sums as may be necessary to carry out the program, as authorized by subchapters I through III of chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code: Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That, during fiscal year 2027, within the resources available, not to exceed $500,000 in gross obligations for direct loans are authorized for specially adapted housing loans. In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $266,736,842. vocational rehabilitation loans program account For the cost of direct loans, $34,788, as authorized by chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code: Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That funds made available under this heading are available to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans not to exceed $1,227,041. In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct loan program, $507,254, which may be paid to the appropriation for ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration''. native american veteran housing loan program account For the cost of direct loans, $2,604,056, as authorized by subchapter V of chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code: Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That funds made available under this heading are available to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans not to exceed $75,000,000. In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct loan program authorized by subchapter V of chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code, $5,845,241. general operating expenses, veterans benefits administration For necessary operating expenses of the Veterans Benefits Administration, not otherwise provided for, including hire of passenger motor vehicles, reimbursement of the General Services Administration for security guard services, and reimbursement of the Department of Defense for the cost of overseas employee mail, $3,744,000,000: Provided, That expenses for services and assistance authorized under paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (11) of section 3104(a) of title 38, United States Code, that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines are necessary to enable entitled veterans: (1) to the maximum extent feasible, to become employable and to obtain and maintain suitable employment; or (2) to [[Page H3494]] achieve maximum independence in daily living, shall be charged to this account: Provided further, That, of the funds made available under this heading, not to exceed 10 percent shall remain available until September 30, 2028. Veterans Health Administration medical services For necessary expenses for furnishing, as authorized by law, inpatient and outpatient care and treatment to beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans described in section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, including care and treatment in facilities not under the jurisdiction of the Department, and including medical supplies and equipment, bioengineering services, food services, and salaries and expenses of healthcare employees hired under title 38, United States Code, assistance and support services for caregivers as authorized by section 1720G of title 38, United States Code, loan repayments authorized by section 604 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 124 Stat. 1174; 38 U.S.C. 7681 note), monthly assistance allowances authorized by section 322(d) of title 38, United States Code, grants authorized by section 521A of title 38, United States Code, and administrative expenses necessary to carry out sections 322(d) and 521A of title 38, United States Code, and hospital care and medical services authorized by section 1787 of title 38, United States Code; $100,000,000, which shall be in addition to funds previously appropriated under this heading that became available on October 1, 2026; $70,700,000,000, plus reimbursements, which shall become available on October 1, 2027, and shall remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That, of the amount made available on October 1, 2027, under this heading, $2,000,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2029: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a priority for the provision of medical treatment for veterans who have service-connected disabilities, lower income, or have special needs: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall give priority funding for the provision of basic medical benefits to veterans in enrollment priority groups 1 through 6: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may authorize the dispensing of prescription drugs from Veterans Health Administration facilities to enrolled veterans with privately written prescriptions based on requirements established by the Secretary: Provided further, That the implementation of the program described in the previous proviso shall incur no additional cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs: Provided further, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that sufficient amounts appropriated under this heading for medical supplies and equipment are available for the acquisition of prosthetics designed specifically for female veterans: Provided further, That nothing in section 2044(e) of title 38, United States Code, may be construed as limiting amounts that may be made available under this heading for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 in this or prior Acts. medical community care For necessary expenses for furnishing health care to individuals pursuant to chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, at non-Department facilities, $1,027,000,000, which shall be in addition to funds previously appropriated under this heading that became available on October 1, 2026; and in addition, $42,000,000,000, plus reimbursements, which shall become available on October 1, 2027, and shall remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That, of the amount made available on October 1, 2027, under this heading, $2,000,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2028. medical support and compliance For necessary expenses in the administration of the medical, hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction, supply, and research activities, as authorized by law; administrative expenses in support of capital policy activities; and administrative and legal expenses of the Department for collecting and recovering amounts owed the Department as authorized under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, and the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq.), $12,000,000,000, plus reimbursements, which shall become available on October 1, 2027, and shall remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That, of the amount made available on October 1, 2027, under this heading, $350,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2029: Provided further, That of the $12,000,000,000 that became available on October 1, 2026, previously appropriated under this heading in the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 (division D of Public Law 119-37), $1,650,000,000 is hereby rescinded. medical facilities For necessary expenses for the maintenance and operation of hospitals, nursing homes, domiciliary facilities, and other necessary facilities of the Veterans Health Administration; for administrative expenses in support of planning, design, project management, real property acquisition and disposition, construction, and renovation of any facility under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department; for oversight, engineering, and architectural activities not charged to project costs; for repairing, altering, improving, or providing facilities in the several hospitals and homes under the jurisdiction of the Department, not otherwise provided for, either by contract or by the hire of temporary employees and purchase of materials; for leases of facilities; and for laundry services; $13,540,000,000, plus reimbursements, which shall become available on October 1, 2027, and shall remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That, of the amount made available on October 1, 2027, under this heading, $500,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2029: Provided further, That of the $11,700,000,000 that became available on October 1, 2026, previously appropriated under this heading in the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 (division D of Public Law 119-37), $754,323,000 is hereby rescinded. medical and prosthetic research For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of medical and prosthetic research and development as authorized by chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code, $900,000,000, plus reimbursements, shall remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that sufficient amounts appropriated under this heading are available for prosthetic research specifically for female veterans, and for toxic exposure research. National Cemetery Administration For necessary expenses of the National Cemetery Administration for operations and maintenance, not otherwise provided for, including uniforms or allowances therefor; cemeterial expenses as authorized by law; purchase of one passenger motor vehicle for use in cemeterial operations; hire of passenger motor vehicles; and repair, alteration or improvement of facilities under the jurisdiction of the National Cemetery Administration, $500,000,000, of which not to exceed 10 percent shall remain available until September 30, 2028. Departmental Administration general administration (including transfer of funds) For necessary operating expenses of the Department of Veterans Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including administrative expenses in support of Department-wide capital planning, management and policy activities, uniforms, or allowances therefor; not to exceed $25,000 for official reception and representation expenses; hire of passenger motor vehicles; and reimbursement of the General Services Administration for security guard services, $425,000,000, which shall be for the offices and in the amounts specified under this heading in the report accompanying this Act, of which not to exceed 10 percent shall remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That funds provided under this heading may be transferred to ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'': Provided further, That 25 percent of the funds made available under this heading shall not be available for obligation or expenditure until the Secretary of Veterans Affairs appears before the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress to testify on the President's budget request for fiscal year 2027. board of veterans appeals For necessary operating expenses of the Board of Veterans Appeals, $268,000,000, of which not to exceed 10 percent shall remain available until September 30, 2028. information technology systems (including transfer of funds) For necessary expenses for information technology systems and telecommunications support, including developmental information systems and operational information systems; for pay and associated costs; and for the capital asset acquisition of information technology systems, including management and related contractual costs of said acquisitions, including contractual costs associated with operations authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, $5,454,000,000, plus reimbursements: Provided, That $1,350,775,000 shall be for pay and associated costs, of which not to exceed 3 percent shall remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided further, That $3,543,200,000 shall be for operations and maintenance, of which not to exceed 35 percent shall remain available until September 30, 2028, and of which $118,900,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2031, for the purpose of facility activations related to projects funded by the ``Construction, Major Projects'', ``Construction, Minor Projects'', ``Medical Facilities'', ``National Cemetery Administration'', ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'', and ``General Administration'' accounts: Provided further, That $560,025,000 shall be for information technology systems development, and shall remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided further, That amounts made available for salaries and expenses, operations and maintenance, and information technology systems development may be transferred among the three subaccounts after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs requests from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer and an approval is issued: Provided further, That amounts made available for the ``Information Technology Systems'' [[Page H3495]] account for development may be transferred among projects or to newly defined projects: Provided further, That no project may be increased or decreased by more than $3,000,000 of cost prior to submitting a request to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress to make the transfer and an approval is issued, or absent a response, a period of 30 days has elapsed. veterans electronic health record For activities related to implementation, preparation, development, interface, management, rollout, and maintenance of a Veterans Electronic Health Record system, including contractual costs associated with operations authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, and salaries and expenses of employees hired under titles 5 and 38, United States Code, $3,400,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2029: Provided, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress quarterly reports detailing obligations, expenditures, and deployment implementation by facility, including any changes from the deployment plan or schedule: Provided further, That the funds provided in this account shall only be available to the Office of the Deputy Secretary, to be administered by that Office: Provided further, That 25 percent of the funds made available under this heading shall not be available until July 1, 2027, and are contingent upon the Secretary of Veterans Affairs providing to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a plan by June 1, 2027, containing the following: (1) an updated life-cycle cost estimate for the EHRM program based on the Department's acceleration of deployments; (2) an updated facility-by-facility deployment schedule for all facilities to receive the EHRM program; (3) a certification that all VA facilities using the new EHR on or before April 1, 2024, have exceeded or met certain health care performance baseline metrics indicating they have returned to their service delivery levels in place prior to the deployment of the new EHR; and (4) an updated projection of Federal VA staffing levels, contract support, and other relevant activities required, and the resources required to fund those activities, to meet the deployment goal as outlined in (2), including target Federal and contracted staffing levels at VA Central Office and, each local VA medical center with a slated deployment in 2027 and 2028, as well as contract support to provide technical and other change management support to carry out the deployments. office of inspector general For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General, to include information technology, in carrying out the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), $290,000,000, of which not to exceed 10 percent shall remain available until September 30, 2028. construction, major projects For constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of the facilities, including parking projects, under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or for any of the purposes set forth in sections 316, 2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, not otherwise provided for, including planning, architectural and engineering services, construction management services, maintenance or guarantee period services costs associated with equipment guarantees provided under the project, services of claims analysts, offsite utility and storm drainage system construction costs, and site acquisition, where the estimated cost of a project is more than the amount set forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38, United States Code, or where funds for a project were made available in a previous major project appropriation, $660,670,000, of which $304,700,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2031, and of which $355,970,000 shall remain available until expended: Provided, That except for advance planning activities, including needs assessments which may or may not lead to capital investments, and other capital asset management related activities, including portfolio development and management activities, and planning, cost estimating, and design for major medical facility projects and major medical facility leases and investment strategy studies funded through the advance planning fund and the planning and design activities funded through the design fund, staffing expenses, and funds provided for the purchase, security, and maintenance of land for the National Cemetery Administration and the Veterans Health Administration through the land acquisition line item, none of the funds made available under this heading shall be used for any project that has not been notified to Congress through the budgetary process or that has not been approved by the Congress through statute, joint resolution, or in the explanatory statement accompanying such Act and presented to the President at the time of enrollment: Provided further, That funds provided for the Veterans Health Administration through the land acquisition line item shall be only for projects included on the five year development plan notified to Congress through the budgetary process: Provided further, That such sums as may be necessary shall be available to reimburse the ``General Administration'' account for payment of salaries and expenses of all Office of Construction and Facilities Management employees to support the full range of capital infrastructure services provided, including minor construction and leasing services: Provided further, That funds made available under this heading for fiscal year 2027, for each approved project shall be obligated: (1) by the awarding of a construction documents contract by September 30, 2027; and (2) by the awarding of a construction contract by September 30, 2028: Provided further, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall promptly submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a written report on any approved major construction project for which obligations are not incurred within the time limitations established above: Provided further, That notwithstanding the requirements of section 8104(a) of title 38, United States Code, amounts made available under this heading for seismic program management activities shall be available for the completion of both new and existing seismic projects of the Department. construction, minor projects For constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of the facilities, including parking projects, under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including planning and assessments of needs which may lead to capital investments, architectural and engineering services, maintenance or guarantee period services costs associated with equipment guarantees provided under the project, services of claims analysts, offsite utility and storm drainage system construction costs, and site acquisition, or for any of the purposes set forth in sections 316, 2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, not otherwise provided for, where the estimated cost of a project is equal to or less than the amount set forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38, United States Code, $318,000,000, of which $210,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2031, and of which $108,000,000 shall remain available until expended, along with unobligated balances of previous ``Construction, Minor Projects'' appropriations which are hereby made available for any project where the estimated cost is equal to or less than the amount set forth in such section: Provided, That funds made available under this heading shall be for: (1) repairs to any of the nonmedical facilities under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department which are necessary because of loss or damage caused by any natural disaster or catastrophe; and (2) temporary measures necessary to prevent or to minimize further loss by such causes. grants for construction of state extended care facilities For grants to assist States to acquire or construct State nursing home and domiciliary facilities and to remodel, modify, or alter existing hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary facilities in State homes, for furnishing care to veterans as authorized by sections 8131 through 8137 of title 38, United States Code, $171,000,000, to remain available until expended. grants for construction of veterans cemeteries For grants to assist States and tribal organizations in establishing, expanding, or improving veterans cemeteries as authorized by section 2408 of title 38, United States Code, $60,000,000, to remain available until expended. Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund For investment in the delivery of veterans' health care associated with exposure to environmental hazards, the expenses incident to the delivery of veterans' health care and benefits associated with exposure to environmental hazards, and medical and other research relating to exposure to environmental hazards, as authorized by section 324 of title 38, United States Code, and in addition to the amounts otherwise available for such purposes in the appropriations provided in this or prior Acts, including the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (Public Law 118-5), $54,593,000,000, to remain available until expended; and, in addition, $53,715,000,000, which shall become available on October 1, 2027, and shall remain available until September 30, 2029. Administrative Provisions (including transfer of funds) Sec. 201. Any appropriation for fiscal year 2027 for ``Compensation and Pensions'', ``Readjustment Benefits'', and ``Veterans Insurance and Indemnities'' may be transferred as necessary to any other of the mentioned appropriations: Provided, That, before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer and such Committees issue an approval, or absent a response, a period of 30 days has elapsed. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 202. Not to exceed 3 percent of amounts made available for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2027, in this or any other Act, including prior Acts, under the ``Medical Services'', ``Medical Community Care'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', and ``Medical Facilities'' accounts may be transferred among the accounts: Provided, That no such account shall be increased by more than 3 percent, in this or any other Act, by any such transfer: Provided further, That amounts may be transferred pursuant to this section only upon written notification from the Secretary of [[Page H3496]] Veterans Affairs to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of the amount and purpose of the transfer and subsequent approval from the Committees on Appropriations of both House of Congress: Provided further, That the transfer authority provided in this section is in addition to any other transfer authority provided by law. Sec. 203. Appropriations available in this title for salaries and expenses shall be available for services authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; hire of passenger motor vehicles; lease of a facility or land or both; and uniforms or allowances therefore, as authorized by sections 5901 through 5902 of title 5, United States Code. Sec. 204. No appropriations in this title (except the appropriations for ``Construction, Major Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor Projects'') shall be available for the purchase of any site for or toward the construction of any new hospital or home. Sec. 205. No appropriations in this title shall be available for healthcare treatment or examination of any persons (except beneficiaries entitled to such treatment or examination under the laws providing such benefits to veterans, and persons receiving such treatment under sections 7901 through 7904 of title 5, United States Code, or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)), unless reimbursement of the cost of such treatment or examination is made to the ``Medical Services'' account at such rates as may be fixed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 206. Appropriations available in this title for ``Compensation and Pensions'', ``Readjustment Benefits'', and ``Veterans Insurance and Indemnities'' shall be available for payment of prior year accrued obligations required to be recorded by law against the corresponding prior year accounts within the last quarter of fiscal year 2026. Sec. 207. Appropriations available in this title shall be available to pay prior year obligations of corresponding prior year appropriations accounts resulting from sections 3328(a), 3334, and 3712(a) of title 31, United States Code, except that if such obligations are from trust fund accounts they shall be payable only from ``Compensation and Pensions''. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 208. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during fiscal year 2027, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, from the National Service Life Insurance Fund under section 1920 of title 38, United States Code, the Veterans' Special Life Insurance Fund under section 1923 of title 38, United States Code, and the United States Government Life Insurance Fund under section 1955 of title 38, United States Code, reimburse the ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'' and ``Information Technology Systems'' accounts for the cost of administration of the insurance programs financed through those accounts: Provided, That reimbursement shall be made only from the surplus earnings accumulated in such an insurance program during fiscal year 2027 that are available for dividends in that program after claims have been paid and actuarially determined reserves have been set aside: Provided further, That if the cost of administration of such an insurance program exceeds the amount of surplus earnings accumulated in that program, reimbursement shall be made only to the extent of such surplus earnings: Provided further, That the Secretary shall determine the cost of administration for fiscal year 2027 which is properly allocable to the provision of each such insurance program and to the provision of any total disability income insurance included in that insurance program. Sec. 209. Amounts deducted from enhanced-use lease proceeds to reimburse an account for expenses incurred by that account during a prior fiscal year for providing enhanced-use lease services shall be available until expended. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 210. Funds available in this title or funds for salaries and other administrative expenses shall also be available to reimburse the Office of Resolution Management, the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, and the Alternative Dispute Resolution function within the Office of Human Resources and Administration for all services provided at rates which will recover actual costs but not to exceed $85,691,000 for the Office of Resolution Management, $8,807,000 for the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, and $4,742,026 for the Alternative Dispute Resolution function within the Office of Human Resources and Administration: Provided, That payments may be made in advance for services to be furnished based on estimated costs: Provided further, That amounts received shall be credited to the ``General Administration'' and ``Information Technology Systems'' accounts for use by the office that provided the service. Sec. 211. No funds of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall be available for hospital care, nursing home care, or medical services provided to any person under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, for a non-service-connected disability described in section 1729(a)(2) of such title, unless that person has disclosed to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in such form as the Secretary may require, current, accurate third-party reimbursement information for purposes of section 1729 of such title: Provided, That the Secretary may recover, in the same manner as any other debt due the United States, the reasonable charges for such care or services from any person who does not make such disclosure as required: Provided further, That any amounts so recovered for care or services provided in a prior fiscal year may be obligated by the Secretary during the fiscal year in which amounts are received. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 212. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, proceeds or revenues derived from enhanced-use leasing activities (including disposal) may be deposited into the ``Construction, Major Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor Projects'' accounts and be used for construction (including site acquisition and disposition), alterations, and improvements of any medical facility under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such sums as realized are in addition to the amount provided for in ``Construction, Major Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor Projects''. Sec. 213. Amounts made available under ``Medical Services'' are available-- (1) for furnishing recreational facilities, supplies, and equipment; and (2) for funeral expenses, burial expenses, and other expenses incidental to funerals and burials for beneficiaries receiving care in the Department. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 214. Such sums as may be deposited into the Medical Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38, United States Code, may be transferred to the ``Medical Services'' and ``Medical Community Care'' accounts to remain available until expended for the purposes of these accounts. Sec. 215. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into agreements with Federally Qualified Health Centers in the State of Alaska and Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations which are party to the Alaska Native Health Compact with the Indian Health Service, to provide healthcare, including behavioral health and dental care, to veterans in rural Alaska. The Secretary shall require participating veterans and facilities to comply with all appropriate rules and regulations, as established by the Secretary. The term ``rural Alaska'' shall mean those lands which are not within the boundaries of the municipality of Anchorage or the Fairbanks North Star Borough. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 216. Such sums as may be deposited into the Department of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund pursuant to section 8118 of title 38, United States Code, may be transferred to the ``Construction, Major Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor Projects'' accounts, to remain available until expended for the purposes of these accounts. Sec. 217. Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a report on the financial status of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the preceding quarter: Provided, That, at a minimum, the report shall include the direction contained in the paragraph entitled ``Quarterly reporting'', under the heading ``General Administration'' in the joint explanatory statement accompanying Public Law 114-223. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 218. Amounts made available under the ``Medical Services'', ``Medical Community Care'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', ``Medical Facilities'', ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'', ``Board of Veterans Appeals'', ``General Administration'', and ``National Cemetery Administration'' accounts for fiscal year 2027 may be transferred to or from the ``Information Technology Systems'' account: Provided, That such transfers may not result in a more than 10 percent aggregate increase in the total amount made available by this Act for the ``Information Technology Systems'' account: Provided further, That, before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer and an approval is issued. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 219. Of the amounts appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2027 for ``Medical Services'', ``Medical Community Care'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', ``Medical Facilities'', ``Construction, Minor Projects'', and ``Information Technology Systems'', up to $710,778,000, plus reimbursements, may be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense--Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 2571) and may be used for operation of the facilities designated as combined Federal medical facilities as described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 4500): Provided, That additional funds may be transferred from accounts designated in this section to the Joint Department of Defense--Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund upon written notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress: Provided further, That section 220 of title II of division D of Public Law 119-37, is repealed. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 220. Of the amounts appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs which [[Page H3497]] become available on October 1, 2027, for ``Medical Services'', ``Medical Community Care'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', and ``Medical Facilities'', up to $760,767,000, plus reimbursements, may be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense--Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 2571) and may be used for operation of the facilities designated as combined Federal medical facilities as described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 4500): Provided, That additional funds may be transferred from accounts designated in this section to the Joint Department of Defense-- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund upon written notification by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 221. Such sums as may be deposited into the Medical Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A of title 38, United States Code, for healthcare provided at facilities designated as combined Federal medical facilities as described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 4500) shall also be available: (1) for transfer to the Joint Department of Defense--Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 2571); and (2) for operations of the facilities designated as combined Federal medical facilities as described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 4500): Provided, That, notwithstanding section 1704(b)(3) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 2573), amounts transferred to the Joint Department of Defense-- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund shall remain available until expended. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 222. Of the amounts available in this title for ``Medical Services'', ``Medical Community Care'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', and ``Medical Facilities'', a minimum of $15,000,000 shall be transferred to the DOD-VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund, as authorized by section 8111(d) of title 38, United States Code, to remain available until expended, for any purpose authorized by section 8111 of title 38, United States Code. Sec. 223. None of the funds available to the Department of Veterans Affairs, in this or any other Act, may be used to replace the current system by which the Veterans Integrated Service Networks select and contract for diabetes monitoring supplies and equipment. Sec. 224. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall notify the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of all bid savings in a major construction project that total at least $5,000,000, or 5 percent of the programmed amount of the project, whichever is less: Provided, That such notification shall occur within 14 days of a contract identifying the programmed amount: Provided further, That the Secretary shall notify the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 14 days prior to the obligation of such bid savings and shall describe the anticipated use of such savings. Sec. 225. None of the funds made available for ``Construction, Major Projects'' may be used for a project in excess of the scope specified for that project in the original justification data provided to the Congress as part of the request for appropriations unless the Secretary of Veterans Affairs receives approval from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. Sec. 226. Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a quarterly report containing performance measures and data from each Veterans Benefits Administration Regional Office: Provided, That, at a minimum, the report shall include the direction contained in the section entitled ``Disability claims backlog'', under the heading ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'' in the joint explanatory statement accompanying Public Law 114-223: Provided further, That the report shall also include information on the number of appeals pending at the Veterans Benefits Administration as well as the Board of Veterans Appeals on a quarterly basis. Sec. 227. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide written notification to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 15 days prior to organizational changes which result in the transfer of 25 or more full-time equivalents from one organizational unit of the Department of Veterans Affairs to another. Sec. 228. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide on a quarterly basis to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress notification of any single national outreach and awareness marketing campaign in which obligations exceed $1,000,000. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 229. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, upon determination that such action is necessary to address needs of the Veterans Health Administration, may transfer to the ``Medical Services'' account not to exceed 3 percent of any discretionary appropriations made available for fiscal year 2027 in this title (except the appropriation made to the ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'' account) or not to exceed 3 percent of any discretionary unobligated balances within the Department of Veterans Affairs, including not to exceed 3 percent of those appropriated for fiscal year 2027, that were provided in advance by appropriations Acts: Provided, That the transfer authority provided in this section is in addition to any other transfer authority provided by law: Provided further, That no amounts may be transferred from amounts that were designated by Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further, That such authority to transfer may not be used unless for higher priority items, based on emergent healthcare requirements, than those for which originally appropriated and in no case where the item for which funds are requested has been denied by Congress: Provided further, That, upon determination that all or part of the funds transferred from an appropriation are not necessary, such amounts may be transferred back to that appropriation and shall be available for the same purposes as originally appropriated: Provided further, That before a transfer may take place pursuant to this section, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must provide written notification of the amount and purpose of the transfer and subsequent approval from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 230. Amounts made available for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2027, under the ``Board of Veterans Appeals'' and the ``General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration'' accounts may be transferred between such accounts: Provided, That before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer and receive approval of that request. Sec. 231. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not reprogram funds among major construction projects or programs if such instance of reprogramming will exceed a cumulative $7,000,000, unless such reprogramming is approved by the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. Sec. 232. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the toll-free suicide hotline under section 1720F(h) of title 38, United States Code-- (1) provides to individuals who contact the hotline immediate assistance from a trained professional; and (2) adheres to all requirements of the American Association of Suicidology. (b)(1) None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to enforce or otherwise carry out any Executive action that prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from appointing an individual to occupy a vacant civil service position, or establishing a new civil service position, at the Department of Veterans Affairs with respect to such a position relating to the hotline specified in subsection (a). (2) In this subsection-- (A) the term ``civil service'' has the meaning given such term in section 2101(1) of title 5, United States Code; and (B) the term ``Executive action'' includes-- (i) any Executive order, Presidential memorandum, or other action by the President; and (ii) any agency policy, order, or other directive. (c)(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study on the effectiveness of the hotline specified in subsection (a) during the 5-year period beginning on January 1, 2016, based on an analysis of national suicide data and data collected from such hotline. (2) At a minimum, the study required by paragraph (1) shall-- (A) determine the number of veterans who contact the hotline specified in subsection (a) and who receive follow up services from the hotline or mental health services from the Department of Veterans Affairs thereafter; (B) determine the number of veterans who contact the hotline who are not referred to, or do not continue receiving, mental health care who commit suicide; and (C) determine the number of veterans described in subparagraph (A) who commit or attempt suicide. Sec. 233. Effective during the period beginning on October 1, 2018, and ending on January 1, 2028, none of the funds made available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by this or any other Act may be obligated or expended in contravention of the ``Veterans Health Administration Clinical Preventive Services Guidance Statement on the Veterans Health Administration's Screening for Breast Cancer Guidance'' published on May 10, 2017, as issued by the Veterans Health Administration National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Sec. 234. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the ``Medical Services'' account may be used to provide-- (1) fertility counseling and treatment using assisted reproductive technology to a covered veteran or the spouse of a covered veteran; or [[Page H3498]] (2) adoption reimbursement to a covered veteran. (b) In this section: (1) The term ``service-connected'' has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code. (2) The term ``covered veteran'' means a veteran, as such term is defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code, who has a service-connected disability that results in the inability of the veteran to procreate without the use of fertility treatment. (3) The term ``assisted reproductive technology'' means benefits relating to reproductive assistance provided to a member of the Armed Forces who incurs a serious injury or illness on active duty pursuant to section 1074(c)(4)(A) of title 10, United States Code, as described in the memorandum on the subject of ``Policy for Assisted Reproductive Services for the Benefit of Seriously or Severely Ill/Injured (Category II or III) Active Duty Service Members'' issued by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs on April 3, 2012, and the guidance issued to implement such policy, including any limitations on the amount of such benefits available to such a member except that-- (A) the time periods regarding embryo cryopreservation and storage set forth in part III(G) and in part IV(H) of such memorandum shall not apply; and (B) such term includes embryo cryopreservation and storage without limitation on the duration of such cryopreservation and storage. (4) The term ``adoption reimbursement'' means reimbursement for the adoption-related expenses for an adoption that is finalized after the date of the enactment of this Act under the same terms as apply under the adoption reimbursement program of the Department of Defense, as authorized in Department of Defense Instruction 1341.09, including the reimbursement limits and requirements set forth in such instruction. (c) Amounts made available for the purposes specified in subsection (a) of this section are subject to the requirements for funds contained in section 508 of division H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115- 141). Sec. 235. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act or any other Act for the Department of Veterans Affairs may be used in a manner that is inconsistent with: (1) section 842 of the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109-115; 119 Stat. 2506); or (2) section 8110(a)(5) of title 38, United States Code. Sec. 236. Section 842 of Public Law 109-115 shall not apply to conversion of an activity or function of the Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, or National Cemetery Administration to contractor performance by a business concern that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more Indian Tribes as defined in section 5304(e) of title 25, United States Code, or one or more Native Hawaiian Organizations as defined in section 637(a)(15) of title 15, United States Code. Sec. 237. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor, shall discontinue collecting and using Social Security account numbers to authenticate individuals in all information systems of the Department of Veterans Affairs for all individuals not later than September 30, 2027. (b) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may collect and use a Social Security account number to identify an individual, in accordance with section 552a of title 5, United States Code, in an information system of the Department of Veterans Affairs if and only if the use of such number is necessary to: (1) obtain or provide information the Secretary requires from an information system that is not under the jurisdiction of the Secretary; (2) comply with a law, regulation, or court order; (3) perform anti-fraud activities; or (4) identify a specific individual where no adequate substitute is available. (c) The matter in subsections (a) and (b) shall supersede section 237 of division A of Public Law 119-37. Sec. 238. For funds provided to the Department of Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2027 and 2028 for ``Medical Services'', section 239 of division A of Public Law 114-223 shall apply. Sec. 239. None of the funds appropriated in this or prior appropriations Acts or otherwise made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs may be used to transfer any amounts from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund to any other account within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 240. Of the funds provided to the Department of Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2027 and fiscal year 2028 for ``Medical Services'', funds may be used in each year to carry out and expand the child care program authorized by section 205 of Public Law 111-163, notwithstanding subsection (e) of such section. Sec. 241. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available in this title may be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement related to resolving a dispute or claim with an individual that would restrict in any way the individual from speaking to Members of Congress or their staff on any topic not otherwise prohibited from disclosure by Federal law or required by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs. Sec. 242. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to deny an Inspector General funded under this Act timely access to any records, documents, or other materials available to the department or agency over which that Inspector General has responsibilities under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), or to prevent or impede the access of the Inspector General to such records, documents, or other materials, under any provision of law, except a provision of law that expressly refers to such Inspector General and expressly limits the right of access. (b) A department or agency covered by this section shall provide its Inspector General access to all records, documents, and other materials in a timely manner. (c) Each Inspector General shall ensure compliance with statutory limitations on disclosure relevant to the information provided by the establishment over which that Inspector General has responsibilities under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 401 et seq.). (d) Each Inspector General covered by this section shall report to the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives within 5 calendar days of any failure by any department or agency covered by this section to comply with this requirement. Sec. 243. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used in a manner that would increase wait times for veterans who seek care at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 244. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act to the Veterans Health Administration may be used in fiscal year 2027 to convert any program which received specific purpose funds in fiscal year 2026 to a general purpose funded program unless the Secretary of Veterans Affairs submits written notification of any such proposal to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress at least 30 days prior to any such action and an approval is issued by the Committees. Sec. 245. For funds provided to the Department of Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2027 and 2028, section 248 of division A of Public Law 114-223 shall apply. Sec. 246. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to conduct research commencing on or after July 1, 2025, that uses any canine, feline, or non-human primate unless the Secretary of Veterans Affairs approves such research specifically and in writing pursuant to subsection (b). (b)(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may approve the conduct of research commencing on or after July 1, 2025, using canines, felines, or non-human primates if the Secretary certifies that-- (A) the scientific objectives of the research can only be met by using such canines, felines, or non-human primates and cannot be met using other animal models, in vitro models, computational models, human clinical studies, or other research alternatives; (B) such scientific objectives are necessary to advance research benefiting veterans and are directly related to an illness or injury that is combat-related as defined by 10 U.S.C. 1413(e); (C) the research is consistent with the revised Department of Veterans Affairs canine research policy document dated December 15, 2017, including any subsequent revisions to such document; and (D) ethical considerations regarding minimizing the harm experienced by canines, felines, or non-human primates are included in evaluating the scientific necessity of the research. (2) The Secretary may not delegate the authority under this subsection. (c) If the Secretary approves any new research pursuant to subsection (b), not later than 30 days before the commencement of such research, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives a report describing-- (1) the nature of the research to be conducted using canines, felines, or non-human primates; (2) the date on which the Secretary approved the research; (3) the USDA pain category on the approved use; (4) the justification for the determination of the Secretary that the scientific objectives of such research could only be met using canines, felines, or non-human primates, and methods used to make such determination; (5) the frequency and duration of such research; and (6) the protocols in place to ensure the necessity, safety, and efficacy of the research, and animal welfare. (d) The Secretary shall submit a biannual report to such Committees describing-- (1) any research being conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs using canines, felines, or non-human primates as of the date of the submittal of the report; (2) the circumstances under which such research was conducted using canines, felines, or non-human primates; (3) the justification for using canines, felines, or non- human primates to conduct such research; (4) the protocols in place to ensure the necessity, safety, and efficacy of such research; and [[Page H3499]] (5) the development and adoption of alternatives to canines, felines, or non-human primate research. (e) The Department of Veterans Affairs must submit to voluntary U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections of canine, feline, and non-human primate research facilities. (f) The Secretary shall submit an annual report to such Committees describing-- (1) any violations of the Animal Welfare Act, the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, or other Department of Veterans Affairs policies related to oversight of animal research found during that quarter in VA research facilities; (2) immediate corrective actions taken; and (3) specific actions taken to prevent their recurrence. Sec. 247. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use amounts appropriated or otherwise made available in this title to ensure that the ratio of veterans to full-time employment equivalents within any program of rehabilitation conducted under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, does not exceed 125 veterans to one full-time employment equivalent. (b) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the programs of rehabilitation conducted under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, including-- (1) an assessment of the veteran-to-staff ratio for each such program; and (2) recommendations for such action as the Secretary considers necessary to reduce the veteran-to-staff ratio for each such program. Sec. 248. Amounts made available for the ``Veterans Health Administration, Medical Community Care'' account in this or any other Act for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 may be used for expenses that would otherwise be payable from the Veterans Choice Fund established by section 802 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, as amended (38 U.S.C. 1701 note). Sec. 249. Obligations and expenditures applicable to the ``Medical Services'' account in fiscal years 2017 through 2019 for aid to state homes (as authorized by section 1741 of title 38, United States Code) shall remain in the ``Medical Community Care'' account for such fiscal years. Sec. 250. Of the amounts made available for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2027, in this or any other Act, under the ``Veterans Health Administration-- Medical Services'', ``Veterans Health Administration--Medical Community Care'', ``Veterans Health Administration--Medical Support and Compliance'', ``Veterans Health Administration-- Medical Facilities'', and ``Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund'' accounts, $1,444,000,000 shall be made available for gender-specific care and programmatic efforts to deliver care for women veterans; $700,000,000 shall be made available for suicide prevention outreach programs; $3,500,000,000 shall be made available for the Caregivers program; $42,000,000 shall be made available for the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; $80,000,000 shall be made available for the Neurology Centers of Excellence; $349,000,000 shall be made available for rural health care; $3,459,121,000 shall be made available for veterans' homelessness programs; $6,365,000,000 shall be made available for telehealth for veterans; $709,573,000 shall be made available for opioid prevention and treatment programs; and, $31,997,000 shall be made available for the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program. Sec. 251. Of the unobligated balances available in fiscal year 2027 in the ``Recurring Expenses Transformational Fund'' established in section 243 of division J of Public Law 114- 113, and in addition to any funds otherwise made available for such purposes in this, prior, or subsequent fiscal years, $1,450,000,000 shall be available for constructing, altering, extending, and improving medical facilities of the Veterans Health Administration, including all supporting activities and required contingencies, during the period of availability of the Fund: Provided, That prior to obligation of any of the funds provided in this section, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must provide a plan for the execution of the funds appropriated in this section to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress and such Committees issue an approval, or absent a response, a period of 30 days has elapsed. (including transfer of funds) Sec. 252. Not later than 30 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan for funds made available in this Act and any available unobligated balances from prior Acts: Provided, That the budget resource categories supporting the Veterans Health Administration shall be reported by the subcategories ``Medical Services'', ``Medical Community Care'', ``Medical Support and Compliance'', and ``Medical and Prosthetic Research'': Provided further, That not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, the Secretary shall submit a quarterly report on the status of the funds, including, at a minimum, an update on obligations by program, project or activity. Sec. 253. Any amounts transferred to the Secretary and administered by a corporation referred to in section 7364(b) of title 38, United States Code, between October 1, 2017 and September 30, 2018 for purposes of carrying out an order placed with the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to section 1535 of title 31, United States Code, that are available for obligation pursuant to section 7364(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, are to remain available for the liquidation of valid obligations incurred by such corporation during the period of performance of such order, provided that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines that such amounts need to remain available for such liquidation. Sec. 254. None of the funds in this or any other Act may be used to close Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, domiciliaries, or clinics, conduct an environmental assessment, or to diminish healthcare services at existing Veterans Health Administration medical facilities as part of a planned realignment of services until the Secretary provides to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a report including an analysis of how any such planned realignment of services will impact access to care for veterans living in rural or highly rural areas, including travel distances and transportation costs to access a Department medical facility and availability of local specialty and primary care. Sec. 255. Unobligated balances available under the headings ``Construction, Major Projects'' and ``Construction, Minor Projects'' may be obligated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for a facility pursuant to section 2(e)(1) of the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 (Public Law 114- 294; 38 U.S.C. 8103 note), as amended, to provide additional funds or to fund an escalation clause under such section of such Act: Provided, That before such unobligated balances are obligated pursuant to this section, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority to obligate such unobligated balances and such Committees issue an approval, or absent a response, a period of 30 days has elapsed: Provided further, That the request to obligate such unobligated balances must provide Congress notice that the entity described in section 2(a)(2) of Public Law 114-294, as amended, has exhausted available cost containment approaches as set forth in the agreement under section 2(c) of such Public Law. Sec. 256. (a) None of the funds appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of Veterans Affairs may be obligated, awarded, or expended to procure or purchase covered information technology equipment in cases where the manufacturer, bidder, or offeror, or any subsidiary or parent entity of the manufacturer, bidder, or offeror, of the equipment is an entity, or parent company of an entity listed on any of the following: (1) the Department of Defense's Chinese Military Company List; (2) the Department of the Treasury's Non-SDN Chinese Military Industrial Complex Companies List; (3) the Department of Commerce's Denied Persons List, Entity List, or Military End User List, if the entity is-- (A) an agency or instrumentality of the People's Republic of China; (B) an entity headquartered in the People's Republic of China; or (C) directly or indirectly owned or controlled by an agency, instrumentality, or entity described in subparagraph (A) or (B); or (4) the Department of Homeland Security's Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List. (b) Applicability to Third Parties.--The prohibition in subsection (a) also applies in cases in which the Secretary has contracted with a third party for the procurement, purchase, or expenditure of funds on any of the equipment and software described in such subsection. (c) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term ``covered information technology equipment'' shall mean the following equipment used in an office environment: computers, printers, or interoperable videoconferencing equipment used in or by the Department of Veterans Affairs directly. ``Covered information technology equipment'' shall not refer to services that use such equipment, including cloud services. Sec. 257. During the period beginning on October 1, 2026 and ending on September 30, 2027, none of the funds made available by this Act may be used to administer, implement, or enforce the final rule issued by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to ``Change in Rates VA Pays for Special Modes of Transportation'' (88 Fed. Reg. 10032) and published on February 16, 2023. Sec. 258. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to pay award or incentive fees for contractors whose performance has been judged to be below satisfactory, behind schedule, over budget, or has failed to meet the basic requirements of a contract, unless the Agency determines that any such deviations are due to unforeseeable events, government-driven scope changes, or are not significant within the overall scope of the project and/ or program and unless such awards or incentive fees are consistent with section 16.401(e)(2) of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Sec. 259. The Department is directed to maintain staffing levels to facilitate the Department's own goals, including that benefits claims are adjudicated according to the 125 day goal, and that healthcare appointments and service are provided in the timeframes required by statute and regulation. [[Page H3500]] Sec. 260. Notwithstanding any other law, by no later than September 30, 2027, the Secretary shall commence construction of the Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Bakersfield, California or move services currently being provided at the current Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Bakersfield, California to an appropriate, temporary space until such a time that the new facility can be constructed in accordance with Lease No.36C10F20L0008. Sec. 261. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to reduce the staffing, hours of operation, or services of the Veterans Crisis Line or any other suicide prevention program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. TITLE III RELATED AGENCIES American Battle Monuments Commission salaries and expenses For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the American Battle Monuments Commission, including the acquisition of land or interest in land in foreign countries; purchases and repair of uniforms for caretakers of national cemeteries and monuments outside of the United States and its territories and possessions; rent of office and garage space in foreign countries; purchase (one-for-one replacement basis only) and hire of passenger motor vehicles; not to exceed $15,000 for official reception and representation expenses; and insurance of official motor vehicles in foreign countries, when required by law of such countries, $107,925,000, to remain available until expended. foreign currency fluctuations account For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of the American Battle Monuments Commission, such sums as may be necessary, to remain available until expended, for purposes authorized by section 2109 of title 36, United States Code. United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims salaries and expenses For necessary expenses for the operation of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims as authorized by sections 7251 through 7298 of title 38, United States Code, $50,000,000, of which $3,000,000 shall be available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That $4,300,000 shall be available for the purpose of providing financial assistance as described and in accordance with the process and reporting procedures set forth under this heading in Public Law 102- 229. Department of Defense--Civil Cemeterial Expenses, Army salaries and expenses For necessary expenses for maintenance, operation, and improvement of Arlington National Cemetery and Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery, including the purchase or lease of passenger motor vehicles for replacement on a one- for-one basis only, and not to exceed $2,000 for official reception and representation expenses, $118,000,000, of which not to exceed $15,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2029. In addition, such sums as may be necessary for parking maintenance, repairs and replacement, to be derived from the ``Lease of Department of Defense Real Property for Defense Agencies'' account. Armed Forces Retirement Home trust fund For expenses necessary for the Armed Forces Retirement Home to operate and maintain the Armed Forces Retirement Home-- Washington, District of Columbia, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home--Gulfport, Mississippi, to be paid from funds available in the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund, $77,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2028, of which $2,000,000 shall remain available until expended for construction and renovation of the physical plants at the Armed Forces Retirement Home--Washington, District of Columbia, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home--Gulfport, Mississippi: Provided, That of the amounts made available under this heading from funds available in the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund, $27,000,000 shall be paid from the general fund of the Treasury to the Trust Fund. Administrative Provision Sec. 301. Amounts deposited into the special account established under 10 U.S.C. 7727 are appropriated and shall be available until expended to support activities at the Army National Military Cemeteries. TITLE IV GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec. 401. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein. Sec. 402. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used for any program, project, or activity, when it is made known to the Federal entity or official to which the funds are made available that the program, project, or activity is not in compliance with any Federal law relating to risk assessment, the protection of private property rights, or unfunded mandates. Sec. 403. All departments and agencies funded under this Act are encouraged, within the limits of the existing statutory authorities and funding, to expand their use of ``E-Commerce'' technologies and procedures in the conduct of their business practices and public service activities. Sec. 404. Unless stated otherwise, all reports and notifications required by this Act shall be submitted to the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. Sec. 405. None of the funds made available in this Act may be transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government except pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer authority provided in, this or any other appropriations Act. Sec. 406. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used for a project or program named for an individual serving as a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner of the United States House of Representatives. Sec. 407. (a) Any agency receiving funds made available in this Act, shall, subject to subsections (b) and (c), post on the public Web site of that agency any report required to be submitted by the Congress in this or any other Act, upon the determination by the head of the agency that it shall serve the national interest. (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a report if-- (1) the public posting of the report compromises national security; or (2) the report contains confidential or proprietary information. (c) The head of the agency posting such report shall do so only after such report has been made available to the requesting Committee or Committees of Congress for no less than 45 days. Sec. 408. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to maintain or establish a computer network unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography. (b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law enforcement agency or any other entity carrying out criminal investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities. Sec. 409. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used by an agency of the executive branch to pay for first-class travel by an employee of the agency in contravention of sections 301-10.122 through 301-10.124 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations. Sec. 410. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to execute a contract for goods or services, including construction services, where the contractor has not complied with Executive Order No. 12989. Sec. 411. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used in contravention of section 101(f)(8) of title 10, United States Code. Sec. 412. (a) In General.--None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense in this Act may be used to construct, renovate, or expand any facility in the United States, its territories, or possessions to house any individual detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for the purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or under the control of the Department of Defense. (b) The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to any modification of facilities at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (c) An individual described in this subsection is any individual who, as of June 24, 2009, is located at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and who-- (1) is not a citizen of the United States or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States; and (2) is-- (A) in the custody or under the effective control of the Department of Defense; or (B) otherwise under detention at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Sec. 413. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section 5502 of title 38, United States Code, in any case arising out of the administration by the Secretary of laws and benefits under such title, to report a person who is deemed mentally incapacitated, mentally incompetent, or to be experiencing an extended loss of consciousness as a person who has been adjudicated as a mental defective under subsection (d)(4) or (g)(4) of section 922 of title 18, United States Code, without the order or finding of a judge, magistrate, or other judicial authority of competent jurisdiction that such person is a danger to himself or herself or others. Sec. 414. None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be used in any way, directly or indirectly, to influence congressional action on any legislation or appropriation matter pending before Congress, other than to communicate to Members of Congress as described in 18 U.S.C. 1913. Sec. 415. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the policies and requirements described in the transmittal sheet of the Veterans Health Administration published on August 8, 2019, titled ``Smoke-Free Policy for Employees at VA Health Care Facilities (VHA Directive 1085.01)'' remain in effect. spending reduction account Sec. 416. $0. This division may be cited as the ``Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027''. [[Page H3501]] The Acting CHAIR. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. No amendment to the bill shall be in order except those printed in part B of House Report 119-648, amendments en bloc described in section 7 of House Resolution 1275, and pro forma amendments described in section 8 of that resolution. Each amendment printed in part B of the report shall be considered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment except as provided in section 8 of House Resolution 1275, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question. It shall be in order at any time for the chair of the Committee on Appropriations or his designee to offer amendments en bloc consisting of amendments printed in part B of the report not earlier disposed of. Amendments en bloc shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their designees, shall not be subject to amendment, except as provided by section 8 of House Resolution 1275, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question. During consideration of the bill for amendment, the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees may offer up to 10 pro forma amendments each at any point for the purpose of debate. Amendments En Bloc Offered by Mr. Carter of Texas Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 1275, I offer amendments en bloc. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendments en bloc. Amendments en bloc consisting of amendment Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 47, 48, and 51 printed in part B of House Report 119-648, offered by Mr. Carter of Texas: Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Alford of Missouri Page 27, line 18, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $5,000,000) (reduced by $5,000,000)''. Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Bean of Florida Page 36, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $5,000,000) (reduced by $5,000,000)''. Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. Bean of Florida Page 40, line 24, after the dollar amount, inserting ``(increased by $5,000,000) (reduced by $5,000,000)''. Amendment No. 4 Offered by Ms. Boebert of Colorado Page 36, line 15, after the dollar amount, inserting ``(reduced by $3,500,000)''. Page 37, line 5, after the dollar amount, inserting ``(increased by $2,000,000)''. Amendment No. 5 Offered by Ms. Boebert of Colorado Page 36, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''. Page 35, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $2,000,000)''. Amendment No. 6 Offered by Ms. Boebert of Colorado Page 36, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $3,500,000)''. Page 45, line 3, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $2,000,000)''. Amendment No. 7 Offered by Ms. Boebert of Colorado Page 36, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''. Page 45, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $2,000,000)''. Amendment No. 8 Offered by Ms. Boebert of Colorado Page 36, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $3,000,000)''. Page 40, line 24, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $2,000,000)''. Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mr. Carson of Indiana Page 35, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $94,000,000)''. Page 37, line 18, after the dollar amount, insert ``(decreased by $100,000,000)''. Page 37, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert ``(decreased by $100,000,000)''. Amendment No. 11 Offered by Mr. Crow of Colorado Page 31, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $500,000)''. Page 36, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $500,000)''. Amendment No. 12 Offered by Ms. Elfreth of Maryland Page 3, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $86,000,000) (reduced by $86,000,000)''. Amendment No. 13 Offered by Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas Page 31, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $1,000,000)(increased by $1,000,000)''. Amendment No. 14 Offered by Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas Page 26, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $1,000,000)(reduced by $1,000,000)''. Amendment No. 15 Offered by Mr. Vincente Gonzalez of Texas Page 45, line 9 after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''. Amendment No. 16 Offered by Mr. Vincente Gonzalez of Texas Page 31, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''. Amendment No. 17 Offered by Mr. Gottheimer of New Jersey Page 31, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $285,000,000) (increased by $285,000,000)''. Amendment No. 18 Offered by Mr. Graves of Missouri Page 7, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $63,000,000)(reduced by $63,000,000)''. Amendment No. 19 Offered by Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia Page 3, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''. Amendment No. 20 Offered by Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia Page 3, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''. Amendment No. 21 Offered by Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia Page 3, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''. Amendment No. 22 Offered by Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia Page 3, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''. Amendment No. 24 Offered by Mr. Ogles of Tennessee Page 2, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert (reduced by $1,000,000)(increased by $1,000,000). Amendment No. 25 Offered by Mr. Ogles of Tennessee At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following: Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to prepare more than one environmental impact statement under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4331) for a military construction project bearing the same project number listed in Block 7 of Department of Defense Form 1391, unless the preparation of more than one such environmental impact statement is required under an order of a court of competent jurisdiction. Amendment No. 26 Offered by Mr. Ogles of Tennessee At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following: Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act under the heading ``Medical Community Care'' may be used in contravention of section 17.4040(a)(2) of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations. Amendment No. 27 Offered by Mr. Ogles of Tennessee At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following: Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act under the heading ``Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'' may be used for architectural and engineering services or construction design for a facility classified as Administrative under the Department of Defense Real Property Categorization System unless such architectural and engineering services or construction design is for a facility classified under such categorization system as-- (1) Operation and Training; (2) Maintenance and Production; (3) Housing and Community; or (4) Utility and Ground Improvements. Amendment No. 28 Offered by Mr. Pappas of New Hampshire Page 41, line 19, after the first dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''. Amendment No. 30 Offered by Ms. Pettersen of Colorado Page 41, line 19, after the first dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $5,000,000)(increased by $5,000,000)''. Amendment No. 31 Offered by Ms. Randall of Washington Page 2, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $12,000,000) (reduced by $12,000,000)''. Amendment No. 32 Offered by Ms. Randall of Washington Page 3, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $5,000,000) (reduced by $5,000,000)''. [[Page H3502]] Amendment No. 33 Offered by Ms. Randall of Washington Page 3, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $12,000,000) (reduced by $12,000,000)''. Amendment No. 34 Offered by Ms. Randall of Washington Page 3, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $5,000,000) (reduced by $5,000,000)''. Amendment No. 35 Offered by Ms. Randall of Washington Page 3, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $15,000,000)(reduced by $15,000,000)''. Amendment No. 36 Offered by Ms. Randall of Washington Page 3, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $12,000,000)(reduced by $12,000,000)''. Amendment No. 37 Offered by Ms. Randall of Washington Page 2, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''. Amendment No. 38 Offered by Ms. Randall of Washington Page 3, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $20,000,000) (reduced by $20,000,000)''. Amendment No. 39 Offered by Ms. Randall of Washington Page 3, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $10,000,000) (reduced by $10,000,000)''. Amendment No. 40 Offered by Ms. Randall of Washington Page 3, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $8,000,000) (reduced by $8,000,000)''. Amendment No. 41 Offered by Ms. Randall of Washington Page 3, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $10,000,000)(reduced by $10,000,000)''. Amendment No. 46 Offered by Ms. Sewell of Alabama Page 7, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $15,000,000)(reduced by $15,000,000)''. Amendment No. 47 Offered by Mr. Stanton of Arizona Page 36, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $5,000,000)(reduced by $5,000,000)''. Amendment No. 48 Offered by Mr. Stanton of Arizona Page 31, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $5,000,000)''. Page 36, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $5,000,000)''. Page 75, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $5,000,000)''. Amendment No. 51 Offered by Mr. Walkinshaw of Virginia Page 36, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1275, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) each will control 10 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas. Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in favor of these amendments en bloc. It includes bipartisan amendments that both sides have agreed to. These are noncontroversial and raise awareness to a variety of issues. I appreciate the ranking member, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, working with us on these amendments, and I ask for your support and urge its adoption. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time. {time} 1510 Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of these amendments en bloc. This en bloc contains noncontroversial amendments that raise awareness on the programs that we all care about. It includes the need to address a variety of medical care issues at the VA, addresses the VA construction backlog, constructs more State extended-care facilities, expedites claims processing, and draws attention to our defense infrastructure, specifically at public shipyards. I encourage my colleagues to support these amendments en bloc, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Randall). Ms. RANDALL. Mr. Chair, I strongly support this bipartisan package of amendments which include 11 key priorities for military families in my district. Our military's readiness relies on the people and facilities that keep it running every day. My district is home to Naval Base Kitsap, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, the Tacoma Narrows Reserve Center, and constituents stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. I have seen the challenges at these installations firsthand. Workers are stuck in traffic trying to get to the shipyard during shift changes. Military families, like so many others, are struggling to access affordable childcare. Aging water infrastructure continues to strain naval installations. Veterans in rural communities are driving hours across my district just to reach specialty care appointments. My amendments take practical steps to address these problems. They will help strengthen electrical grid resilience in our public shipyards, improve industrial safety infrastructure, modernize aging water and wastewater systems, and improve transportation access around naval installations. This package also invests in military families through expanded childcare capacity, workforce support spaces, and employment resources for military spouses. Importantly, one of my amendments would require an assessment of transportation barriers. The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentlewoman has expired. Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Washington. Ms. RANDALL. Mr. Chair, importantly, one of my amendments would require an assessment of transportation barriers facing veterans in rural and highly rural communities seeking specialty care. These are practical investments. These strengthen readiness. They support families, and they will improve the lives of people who serve this country every single day. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan package. Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth). Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of amendment No. 12 included in this en bloc package and thank the committee for their hard work. For over 180 years, the United States Naval Academy has educated and trained our Nation's finest sailors, marines, and even some Members of Congress. But the academy faces a very real and ongoing challenge of stormwater flooding impacting the readiness of America's midshipmen. In 2024 alone, there were 85 days of flooding on the yard. My amendment highlights the key part of the academy's installation resilience plan by raising Congress' bipartisan support for the Lejeune cistern, a stormwater management system, to address this flooding and ensure midshipmen continue to receive the highest quality, uninterrupted education needed to serve our Nation. I am thankful for my cosponsor, Congressman Deluzio, and Naval Academy alums Ellzey and LaLota who have also expressed support for this amendment. Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New Hampshire (Ms. Goodlander). Ms. GOODLANDER. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this bipartisan package of amendments, which includes an amendment I am proud to be leading alongside my colleague from New Hampshire, Congressman Pappas. This amendment does an important thing for New Hampshire's veterans. We are home to more than 80,000 veterans in the Granite State. We are the only State in the 48 continental States that doesn't have a full-service VA medical center. This gap has got to be addressed, and this amendment takes important steps to that end, to make sure that every veteran who has put their lives on the line for our country gets the healthcare they need, when they need it, and where they need it. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment. Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time. [[Page H3503]] Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Walkinshaw). Mr. WALKINSHAW. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the bipartisan amendments en bloc, which includes my amendment to address air quality for our veterans and the Federal employees who care for them. The bipartisan package makes progress on important veteran healthcare priorities as well as funding for the Toxic Exposures Fund, but our work is far from finished. When it comes to ensuring that our Federal Government is leading by example and tackling one of the most enduring and largely unaddressed national priorities in the post-COVID world, we must upgrade our building standards to ensure we have the highest possible air quality. My amendment emphasizes the importance of ensuring the MILCON-VA facilities meet indoor air quality ventilation and HVAC performance standards and the need for strengthened oversight and GAO review of indoor air quality conditions in these buildings. Our civilians, doctors, patients, and nurses at VA facilities and our warfighters deserve the peace of mind and confidence that the air they are breathing is safe. Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. CARSON. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of my amendment No. 9 to H.R. 8469, the Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. When Americans serve our country, we have a responsibility to support them when they come home. That means giving the Department of Veterans Affairs the tools it needs to treat veterans today and find better ways to help them recover tomorrow. My amendment is straightforward. It increases funding for the VA's Medical and Prosthetic Research Program to $994 million. As drafted, the underlying bill cuts $45 million from veteran-focus medical research. I believe that is the wrong direction at a time when research costs are rising, veterans' needs remain urgent, and medical breakthroughs depend on sustained investment. VA research supports veterans who are living with traumatic brain injury, PTSD, toxic exposure, cancer, chronic disease, limb loss, and other conditions tied to their service. These are not abstract issues. They directly impact whether veterans can work, care for themselves and their families, regain independence, and live with dignity. This work is already making a difference. The VA is the largest integrated health care system in the country, which gives its researchers a unique window into veterans' long-term health needs. That matters because many service-related conditions affect veterans over many years and require sustained, longitudinal study, VA researchers have used that experience to expand lung cancer screening to hundreds of thousands of veterans, advance precision medicine, and develop prosthetic technologies that help veterans regain mobility and independence. This research does not stop at the walls of the VA. Breakthroughs that begin with veterans can improve care for the entire country. VA researchers are using artificial intelligence and advanced imaging to detect disease earlier, testing new treatments for spinal cord injuries and bone regeneration, and advancing robotic and sensor-enabled prosthetics that help veterans with limb loss regain mobility, independence, and dignity. That is why sustained investment in VA research is not just sound science, it is how we turn our commitment to veterans into better care, better recovery, and better medicine for all Americans. This is exactly the kind of work we should be strengthening, not cutting. This amendment is a modest, responsible step to reverse the funding cut in the bill and keep VA medical research moving forward. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and help uphold our commitment to America's veterans. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter). The en bloc amendments were agreed to. Amendment No. 10 Offered by Mr. Correa The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 10 printed in part B of House Report 119-648. Mr. CORREA. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 35, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $45,000,000) (reduced by $45,000,000)''. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1275, the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California. Mr. CORREA. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of my and General Jack Bergman's amendment No. 10 to restore funding for medical and prosthetic research at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is being cut in this bill by $45 million. As all of you know, 3 weeks ago President Trump signed an executive order to expedite psychedelic therapies research for depression and substance abuse disorder specifically for veterans. The President's executive order also called for $50 million in matching funds for research as well in this area. As all of you know, Texas is also leading the way by also having allocated recently $50 million for psychedelic research. Sadly, again, this bill cuts $45 million in funding from last year's funding level and is even $22 million less than what President Trump has requested this year. I am grateful for General Jack Bergman for supporting me and working with me on this amendment. Mr. Chair, this amendment is basically about taking care of those who have answered the call of duty to defend our country, those individuals who come back from combat with invisible wounds that still have not healed. On a daily basis, 20 to 40 veterans take their lives, commit suicide, because of PTSD. As all of you may not know, psilocybin and other psychedelic treatments actually work and do cure veterans. Last week, when I was back home, I heard a story. Two Orange firefighters took their own lives--two Orange County firefighters in their thirties, who were veterans, one of whom was waiting to receive psychedelic treatment in Mexico because it is not available in the United States. {time} 1520 Many veterans have taken this treatment and have essentially been cured of PTSD. Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment. This is about treating our veterans, their invisible wounds, and making sure we reduce that 20 to 40 suicides that we have per day in this country of veterans who are suffering from those wounds that they brought back from the battlefield. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and to restore funding for critical medical research for our Nation's heroes. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa). The amendment was agreed to. Amendment No. 23 offered by Mr. Mast The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 23 printed in part B of House Report 119-628. Mr. MAST. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of the bill (before the short title) insert the following: Sec. __. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs in this Act may be used to enforce Veterans Health Directive 1315 as it relates to-- (1) the policy stating that ``VHA providers are prohibited from completing forms or registering Veterans for participation in a State-approved marijuana program''; (2) the directive for the ``Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management'' to ensure that ``medical facility Directors are aware that it is VHA policy for providers to assess Veteran use of marijuana but providers are prohibited from recommending, making referrals to or completing paperwork for Veteran participation in State marijuana programs''; and (3) the directive for the ``VA Medical Facility Director'' to ensure that ``VA facility staff are aware of the following'' ``[t]he prohibition on recommending, making referrals to or completing forms and registering Veterans for participation in State-approved marijuana programs''. [[Page H3504]] The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1224, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida. Mr. MAST. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment, which is pretty simple. It prohibits funds from being used to enforce veterans health directive 1315. Why is that? Why would we want to prohibit funds from doing this? Just to make this clear, it doesn't change Federal law. It doesn't require the VA to prescribe any cannabis treatment or any other treatment like that. It simply says that the Department of Veterans Affairs should not prohibit doctors from discussing or helping veterans navigate legal State-approved cannabis programs if that is something that the veteran is considering. Now, whether anybody likes it or not, whether they smoke it, they roll it, they chew it, or they sniff it, whatever, anything they do with cannabis or don't do with cannabis, these are programs that exist in a lot of States. If former members of the military have doctors that they are seeing inside of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and if there is a treatment option that they want to be considered for, they want to know if it is right for them, if it is not right for them, if it doesn't fit in good with other prescriptions that they have, you name it, Mr. Chair, if they want to discuss it, then they have to be able to discuss it with their doctor. The most important person for them to discuss it with is their doctor. If they are getting their primary care from the VA and they can't have that discussion, then that is a problem. Whether the doctor says it is good or bad, that is up to the doctor to decide, but they have to be able to have that conversation. I tell people often that I was injured in Afghanistan. I lost two legs and a finger there. When I woke up in the hospital, I woke up on antidepressants, antiinflammatories, heavy sleep sedatives, a host of narcotic pain killers from a Dilaudid drip, to oral morphines, to epidurals, you name it, Mr. Chair, and I weaned myself off of those things very quickly. That is not the case for all of my brothers and sisters. A lot of these narcotics that people are on and get placed on, especially after injuries, are serious and very difficult to get off of and leave long- term, lasting effects on them. There has to be an ability, again, for people inside the system to have that conversation with their doctor about whether that is right, that path of what I woke up on, having really no say-so about it, or something else is right for them, because they read something about it, saw something about it, heard something from one of their friends, you name it, Mr. Chair, they have to have that conversation with their doctor. Again, I encourage support for amendment No. 23, prohibit funds from being used to enforce veterans health directive 1315 so that why? So that veterans can speak to their doctor about whether cannabis is or is not a good medical treatment program for them. Just let them have the option to talk. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to it. The CHAIR pro tempore. Without objection, the gentlewoman from Nevada is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection. Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Mast for his eloquent defense of this amendment. Mr. Chair, I, too, rise in support of the veterans equal access amendment. Forty States, three territories, and the District of Columbia allow medical use of cannabis products, but not something for our veterans who live and work in those places. For the nearly 200,000 veterans who call Nevada home, this commonsense amendment would allow healthcare professionals at the VA to just discuss cannabis for medical purposes with their patients. This includes providing information on the State's legal program, answering questions that the veteran may have about information that he has picked up out on the hustings. It would also assist them in filling out any forms that might be required by the State to qualify for medical marijuana assistance. Cannabis has proven to help with a wide variety of medical issues that veterans face, including pain management, PTSD, and opioid addiction. Instead of self-medicating and going outside the VA system, a veteran should be able to speak with a doctor honestly about what their options are. Our veterans deserve the best healthcare they can get and should not be left behind because the Federal Government lags behind the States. They need to hear their options and make their choices. Mr. Chair, I urge all my colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment because it will be a meaningful step in the right direction for our veterans and for cannabis reform. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. MAST. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio. Mr. JOYCE of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this amendment, and I thank my friend, Representative Mast, and my friend, Representative Titus, for their leadership on this issue and for their continued advocacy on behalf of our Nation's veterans. This amendment is about ensuring veterans are not denied access to treatment options that may improve their quality of life. Mr. Chair, do you want them getting advice from doctors or budtenders? It is a simple question. As President Trump's administration continues examining broader reforms to Federal cannabis policy, Congress has a responsibility to ensure veterans are not left behind in that process. Many of our servicemembers come home carrying invisible wounds that last long after the battlefield, chronic pain, PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, depression, and other service-connected conditions that can profoundly affect the quality of their lives. For some veterans, traditional treatments have not worked. Others are searching for alternatives that may help manage pain, improve daily functioning, or reduce reliance on highly addictive opioids. Across much of the country, patients are able to have open and honest conversations with their doctors about whether medical cannabis may help treat serious medical conditions. Yet veterans receiving care through the VA still face Federal barriers that prevent VA physicians from fully engaging in those same conversations and recommendations with their patients. I think that is fundamentally wrong. Regardless of where someone stands on broader cannabis policy, we should all agree that veterans deserve access to informed medical guidance and treatment decisions driven by science, evidence, and patient care, not outdated Federal restrictions. That is especially important as President Trump's administration and Federal health agencies continue taking steps to expand legitimate cannabis research and better understand both its risk and potential therapeutic benefits. If we are serious about evidence-based medicine and improving outcomes for veterans, then we should not be standing in the way of research, dialogue, or responsible treatment options. Frankly, the current system is not working. We have veterans living in States with legal medical cannabis programs, veterans seeking relief from serious service-connected conditions, and VA physicians whose hands remain tied by outdated Federal policy. That disconnect serves no one, least of all the men and women who served this country. Mr. Chair, I urge strong support for this amendment. Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chair, I have no further speakers. In closing, I just want to thank Mr. Mast and Mr. Joyce for their leadership on this issue. Our veterans sacrifice everything for our country. We don't leave them behind on the field, and we shouldn't leave them behind when they come home. One way that we can serve them is providing this option when it comes to medical care. They need to have an honest conversation with their doctors to understand what their options are and how they can best recover from the pains that continue after they have come home. Mr. Chair, I proudly support this amendment. I urge all my colleagues [[Page H3505]] to vote in favor it, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. MAST. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. {time} 1530 The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast). The amendment was agreed to. Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise. The motion was agreed to. Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Carter of Texas) having assumed the chair, Mr. Hurd of Colorado, Acting Chair of the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported that that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 8365) to provide for conditions on the appointment of monitors by courts, and for other purposes, had come to no resolution thereon. ____________________

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