Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027

Floor Speech

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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.

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