Sponsor
John R. Carter
Representative · R-TX
Representative · R-TX
The bill preserves and funds major veteran, nutrition, and agency operations while increasing congressional oversight and imposing procurement, reporting, and program restrictions that could slow agency responsiveness, raise costs, and limit flexibility.
Low‑income households, children, and tribal communities keep SNAP and school/child nutrition funding (including tribal school nutrition pilots) so benefit levels and school meal access are maintained.
Veterans retain and in some cases gain VA health services, crisis-line capacity, childcare supports, protections for specific veteran compensation funds, and substantial medical facility construction funding, preserving access to care and benefits.
Federal spending across DoD, VA, and other agencies gets stronger oversight, inspector general access, and reporting requirements, increasing transparency and congressional control over reprogramming and transfers.
Many agencies face new or expanded reporting, congressional‑approval, and notification requirements that could slow midyear reprogramming, delay urgent purchases or projects, and divert staff from service delivery.
Stricter contracting and procurement limits (bans on certain foreign vendors or contract types, procurement restrictions, and equipment prohibitions) may reduce competition, raise costs, slow procurements, and complicate some overseas operations.
Prohibitions on using funds to establish new U.S. bases or buy sites for VA hospitals and tight controls on converting or obligating unobligated balances could limit DoD/VA flexibility and delay realignment or new infrastructure needed for emergent demands.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Provides FY2026 appropriations for DoD construction, VA, USDA programs, and the Legislative Branch, and imposes detailed restrictions on how those funds may be used.
Official title: Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 12, 2025 by John R. Carter · Last progress August 1, 2025
Provides FY2026 appropriations and policy directions for military construction, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture and related programs, and the Legislative Branch, while imposing detailed restrictions and administrative conditions on how those funds may be used. It limits certain contracting and land-acquisition authorities, phases out Social Security number authentication in VA systems, funds targeted USDA and rural programs, and creates notification and reporting requirements for agency actions. The Act bundles multiple appropriations and policy provisions: DoD construction funding with Buy-American and contracting limits; VA funding with privacy, contracting, and childcare flexibilities; USDA vehicle and working capital fund authorities with fleet caps; programmatic grants and direction for rural programs, nutrition pilots, and FDA seafood guidance; and Legislative Branch funding including Capitol Police mutual-aid reimbursement authority and applicant controls on contractor incentive payments.