Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), the chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Mrvan), a member of the Appropriations Committee. He just joined us, and I am happy to have him.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano), the distinguished ranking member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and a champion of our Nation's veterans.

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Murphy).

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I want to add some further information because the Veterans Crisis Line was referenced by the gentleman from Missouri.

I want to make it very clear that the Secretary of the VA actually did a YouTube video specifically denying firing anyone from the Veterans Crisis Line when, in reality, he fired 24 people who worked on the Veterans Crisis Line.

If there was any improvement to the Veterans Crisis Line in this bill, it is thanks to my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee, the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean), who was successful in passing an amendment that added $5 million to funding for the Veterans Crisis Line, and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Underwood), who actually added an amendment that prohibits any further cuts from the Veterans Crisis Line.

We are certainly appreciative of the bipartisan support for that. However, I want to make it clear that we need to remain united in fighting cuts to the Veterans Crisis Line and ensure that veterans have everything they need and a safety net firmly in place.

With all the issues raised during this debate, Mr. Chair, from the blatant push toward privatization of VA medical care to the underfunding of infrastructure and climate resiliency projects and the harmful poison pill riders, I just cannot in good conscience support this bill.

It breaks my heart because we do have such a good working relationship across the aisle with Chairman Carter and myself. I look forward to working together to improve this bill. I know it is possible as we move forward, and I am hopeful. I urge my colleagues at this point to vote against it.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I acknowledge and ask my colleagues to support the fiscal year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

This legislation provides critical funding for military bases, provides housing for our troops and their families, and makes other investments aimed at improving the quality of life of our servicemembers. It ensures that our national defense needs are met both at home and abroad.

We also uphold our pledge to our veterans. This bill fully funds healthcare and benefits for those who have valiantly served. Again, I ask my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 530, I offer amendments en bloc.

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in favor of this en bloc package. It includes bipartisan amendments that both sides have agreed to.

I appreciate Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz working with us on this amendment. I ask my colleagues to support it, and I urge its adoption.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this amendment. This amendment contains noncontroversial amendments that raise awareness on programs that we all care about. That includes the need to address a variety of medical care issues at the VA, the need to build more childcare development centers, construct more State extended-care facilities, expediting claims processing, and many others.

Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Gottheimer), a fearless defender of our Nation's veterans.

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Moylan).

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert).

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I do not have any additional speakers, and I also yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, pursuant to House Resolution 530, I offer amendments en bloc as the designee of Chairman Cole.

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in favor of the amendment. It includes various priorities related to veterans' health care and benefits and calls for improvements to our military bases.

Mr. Chairman, I urge its adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Arrington).

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas.

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I move the adoption of this en bloc, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, this en bloc doesn't do a single thing to improve this bill. In fact, it makes it worse. It cuts the Veterans Benefits Administration. It discriminates against veterans and doubles down on privatization of VA medical care.

Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

The motion was agreed to.

Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Alford) having assumed the chair, Mr. Fine, 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. 3944) making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes, had come to no resolution thereon.

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