Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my longtime friend and colleague and the chairman of Appropriations Committee, Mr. Cole, for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5371. I look forward to reopening the government. The shutdown has gone on long enough, and it is time to end it.

Yesterday was Veterans Day. It is a timely reminder of the commitment our Armed Forces personnel have made and the responsibility we have to take care of those who serve our Nation.

The military construction and veterans affairs component of the legislation meets that goal. The legislation includes $133.3 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, including $113.8 billion in discretionary funding for VA medical care.

It includes critical funding for mental health services, telehealth services, veteran homelessness programs, medical research programs, and rural health initiatives.

It invests in information technology, including robust investment in VA's electronic health record modernization.

It fully funds all mandatory veteran benefits, including veteran disability compensation programs, education benefits, and vocational rehabilitation and employment training.

Nearly $20 billion is for the Department of Defense military construction program. This amount funds nearly 300 projects at military bases around the world.

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. It includes $2 billion to improve and maintain housing for servicemembers and their families. It provides requested resources for the American Battle Monuments Commission, Armed Forces Retirement Home, and operations at Arlington National Cemetery.

I thank Mr. Cole for his endless work to get us to this point.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill.

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