Fisher House Availability Act of 2026

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3726, the Fisher House Availability Act of 2026, as amended.

Created in 1990, Fisher Houses have provided veteran and military families a cost-free, home-away-from-home environment while their loved ones receive medical care at nearby VA, DOD, and community hospitals.

Grounded in the understanding that social support is instrumental to the healing process, families of veterans and Active-Duty servicemembers can access these comfortable and welcoming houses without worry about cost and geographical distance from their loved ones who are receiving care.

Regrettably, since the fall of 2024, VA Fisher Houses have been restricted in their ability to serve the entire veteran and military community.

VA made guidance changes at that time that altered eligibility and only permitted families of veterans receiving care at a VA facility to stay at Fisher Houses.

Military families falling outside of this criteria, specifically, Active-Duty families receiving care at facilities near VA medical centers, have been turned away, even when rooms at Fisher Houses have been available.

The bipartisan Fisher House Availability Act of 2026 would restore the flexibility of VA Fisher Houses to not only accommodate veteran families but Active-Duty families on a space-available basis. As veteran families would still receive prioritization, veteran access to VA Fisher Houses will not change.

This bill will increase VA Fisher House usage by simply allowing for eligible DOD beneficiaries to be considered for a room when one is available, while also strengthening the partnership between the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense.

Mr. Speaker, veteran and military caregivers deserve access to VA Fisher Houses. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3726, the Fisher House Availability Act.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the wonderful history of the Fisher Houses and all of the support that my colleague from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) has given over the years. What a wonderful story about Alma Powell.

Mr. Speaker, with all of that, I ask my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 3726, the Fisher House Availability Act, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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