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House Passes First FY26 Funding Bill, Boosting Veterans’ Care and Military Infrastructure

Washington, June 25, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — June 25, 2025… Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today voted in support of the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives today. This bill allocates $152.091 billion in discretionary funding—an increase of nearly $5 billion over the fiscal year 2025 enacted level. It includes critical investments in military infrastructure that supports readiness and the military families that utilize them.

Congressman Womack said, “Over the past week, we’ve seen clear evidence that the United States military is the most lethal and capable in the world. This bill builds on that strength, improving our military infrastructure and supporting our servicemembers both during and after their service. I strongly support this first FY26 appropriations bill passed by the House, and I hope it sets the pace for the remaining eleven bills to proceed through regular order. The American people deserve a budget that prioritizes their needs—not one with outdated funding levels.”

Bill highlights:

  • Supports our veterans by:
    • Fully funding veterans’ health care programs.
    • Fully funding veterans’ benefits and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs.
    • Maintaining funding levels for research, mental health programs, and other programs relied upon by veterans.
    • Protecting the 2nd Amendment rights of veterans, preventing the VA from sending information to the FBI about veterans without a judge’s consent.
    • Prohibiting funds for DEI, gender affirming care, and including Hyde Amendment-like language to protect life at the VA.
    • Prohibiting the VA from processing medical care claims for illegal aliens.
  • Bolsters U.S. national security and border protections by:
    • Providing robust funding for military construction, enabling continued investment in the Indo-Pacific region and infrastructure necessary to support United States advanced weapons systems.
    • Maintaining the prohibitions on the closure of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and the use of military construction funds to build facilities for detainees on U.S. soil.
    • Prohibiting the VA from purchasing resources directly or indirectly from the People’s Republic of China.

A summary of the bill is available HERE.

The bill text is available HERE.

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

womack.house.gov

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