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

Floor Speech

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Mr. MRVAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member for yielding me time.

Mr. Chairman, as an elected official, one of the greatest honors of my career has been standing shoulder to shoulder with veterans of northwest Indiana. I have worked tirelessly to ensure they receive the world-class care and benefits they have bravely earned in service to our Nation.

Indiana's First Congressional District is home to nearly 40,000 veterans. Every single day, I fight to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs fulfills its sacred promise to those who wore the uniform. That means making sure the VA has the staffing, resources, and funding necessary to deliver the high-quality care that our heroes deserve.

It is with deep regret and strong conviction that I oppose this proposal because it fails our veterans. It fails to meet the obligations we owe those who answered the call of duty.

In particular, I have heard the voices of veterans and their families in northwest Indiana, voices filled with concern and fear. They are worried that the cuts to VA staffing will strip away access to critical care and essential services. We cannot and must not allow that to happen.

Our Nation made a promise. We must honor it with action and not empty words.

I have also heard from veterans who have continued their mission of service by joining the Federal workforce only now to face uncertainty about their futures. These patriots, who once defended our freedoms, now work to uphold the very institutions they once served in uniform. Nearly 30 percent of the Federal workforce is made up of veterans. Cutting staff just doesn't jeopardize care. It threatens the jobs and livelihoods of those who have already sacrificed so much for this country.

I stand ready for the debate ahead. Let's be clear: These cuts are coming at exactly the wrong time. Instead of reducing services, we should be expanding them in the wake of the Honoring our PACT Act.

Veterans exposed to toxic substances deserve swift justice. Right now, the average time for processing a claim is 165 days. Over 2.3 million claims have been submitted, and more than 6,000 of those veterans are right in my district, Indiana's First Congressional District. That number represents hope and progress.

I have to ensure and uphold a duty to the brave men and women who have served.

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