Mike Bost in the 119th Congress. Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3726) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make temporary
Official Congressional Record section title: Fisher House Availability Act of 2026
Full text
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3726) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make temporary lodging facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs available for certain TRICARE beneficiaries on a space-available basis, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3726
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Fisher House Availability
Act of 2026”.
SEC. 2. AVAILABILITY OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
TEMPORARY LODGING TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.
Section 1708 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by striking “in connection with”
and all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting “in accordance with this section.”;
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) in paragraph (2)—
(i) by inserting “described in paragraph (1)” after
“family of a veteran”; and
(ii) by inserting “such” after “accompany”; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
“(3) On a space-available basis, a covered beneficiary who
must travel a significant distance to receive care or
services at a Department or non-Department facility.
“(4) On a space-available basis, a member of the family of
a covered beneficiary described in paragraph (3) and others
who accompany such a covered beneficiary who is receiving
care or services and provide the equivalent of familial
support for such beneficiary when the covered beneficiary or
the family member is traveling to receive care or services at
a Department or non-Department facility.
“(5) On a space-available basis, a veteran and a member of
the family of a veteran and others who must travel a
significant distance for a member of the veteran's family to
receive care or services at a Department or non-Department
facility.
“(6) On a space available basis, a covered beneficiary and
a member of the family of a covered beneficiary and others
who must travel a significant distance for a member of the
covered beneficiary's family to receive care or services at a
Department or non-Department facility.”;
(3) by striking subsection (c) and redesignating
subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d),
respectively;
(4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated—
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking “subsection (d)” and
inserting “subsection (c)”;
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking “under subsection
(b)(2)” and inserting “or a covered beneficiary under
subsection (b)”;
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking “and” after the
semicolon;
(D) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
(E) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new
paragraph (5):
“(5) establishing criteria for providing access to
temporary lodging facilities on a space-available basis under
paragraphs (3) through (6) of subsection (b); and”; and
(5) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(e) In this section:
“(1) The term `covered beneficiary' means a member of the
uniformed services performing active duty.
“(2) The term `Fisher house' means a housing facility
that—
“(A) is located at, or in proximity to, a Department
medical facility;
“(B) is available for residential use on a temporary basis
by patients of that facility and others described in
subsection (b); and
“(C) is constructed by, and donated to the Secretary by,
the Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fisher Armed Services Foundation
or the Fisher House Foundation, Inc.”.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF PENSION.
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by striking “January 31, 2033” and inserting “July
31, 2033”.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3726, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3726, the Fisher House Availability Act of 2026, offered by Representative Dr. Miller-Meeks.
veteran families by providing a place to stay while their loved one received medical care.
further that mission by extending eligibility to servicemembers' families, allowing them to stay in these temporary VA lodging facilities.
Dr. Miller-Meeks' bill would also improve coordination between VA and DOW, so that we can ensure our military families have the best quality of life.
ensure veterans' families have access to safe and affordable lodging when they need it most.
already available to support both those who have served our Nation and their families.
I thank my friend, our Health Subcommittee chairwoman, Dr. Miller- Meeks, for her work on expanding healthcare access.
Mr. Speaker, our servicemembers, veterans, and their families have sacrificed greatly on behalf of this country. I believe we should ensure they have the support and stability they have earned while receiving medical care. This bill answers the call.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3726, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3726, the Fisher House Availability Act of 2026, as amended.
families a cost-free, home-away-from-home environment while their loved ones receive medical care at nearby VA, DOD, and community hospitals.
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.
restricted in their ability to serve the entire veteran and military community.
only permitted families of veterans receiving care at a VA facility to stay at Fisher Houses.
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 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.
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. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks), the sponsor of this bill.
Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Bost for yielding time to me.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, the Fisher House Availability Act. This life-changing bill would ease the burden on the families of veterans staying in Fisher Houses across the country by making lodging more accessible for veterans, servicemembers, and their families during treatment.
accompany their veteran loved one so that they can receive serious medical treatment at VA facilities.
hand through free, safe lodging. The Fisher House Foundation and their many volunteers make a painful time bearable.
when care becomes difficult instead of easy. What better mission than to provide a place to stay while their loved one, servicemember, or veteran receives the medical care they need.
The value of these homes can be understood by their numbers. Over the past 30 years, Fisher Houses have served 500,000 people, kept $650 million in people's wallets, and offered 12.5 million nights of lodging.
the stories, as founder Zachary Fisher put it, hardships we helped ease and friendships we helped form.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe and United States Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom were tragically attacked last year here in D.C. Fisher House provided shelter to the loved ones of Staff Sergeant Wolfe while he received care at a VA-owned home. This is an example of the mission being met.
However, this story is an exception, not the standard. Staff Sergeant Wolfe's family required a waiver in order to stay in the lodging due to burdensome regulations. We must do better, and my bill, the Fisher House Availability Act, would make it so that we can do better.
servicemember stay, even if there is space available, and veterans and military are used to space available. The family of a veteran cannot stay, either, if the veteran happens to need care from a non-VA medical facility.
Mr. Speaker, this interpretation of the law forces the door shut to vacant rooms when space is available that is meant to serve those who serve or who have served.
veterans' families. It would only open the door for more of them. Further, the bill simply ensures that servicemembers have access to available lodging.
Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to the Fisher House Foundation and to Chairman Bost for supporting this bill, and I am proud to address this issue on behalf of the veteran and military families I know it will help across the country.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell), cosponsor of this legislation.
for her leadership on this effort. I am very proud to co-lead this bill with her. I thank the chair and ranking member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee for making this happen.
eligible to stay at VA lodging, the Fisher Houses, as we are discussing, when space allows, regardless of where care is provided. It doesn't matter if they are receiving care at a VA facility, a military hospital, or a civilian provider.
Fisher Houses are home away from home near VA and military hospitals. No veteran or servicemember who has served their country should have to face medical care or a hospital stay without the support of their loved ones by their side.
most, without worrying about whether they can afford a place to stay. This allows veterans and servicemembers to focus on what is important: the healing process.
care waiting room, with a young mother whose husband was in intensive care in a coma, and she had a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old. She had no money for a motel or a hotel. She didn't know how she was feeding her children, and they were sleeping on couches in the intensive care.
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Powell, and said that this is unacceptable. No family should not have support.
She introduced me to the Fisher family. At that point, there were just a couple of Fisher Houses. There are now more than 100.
We have two Fisher Houses in Michigan—yes—at the John D. Dingell Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Detroit and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, and I visit them often. I know the work that they do and the comfort that they are able to provide to our military and veteran families during some of the most difficult times.
veterans, and we must always fight to stand up and support our veterans and those who fought to defend our freedoms. This should never be partisan. It is always important to give bipartisan support to our veterans and to our active military.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
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.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation. This is an opportunity to take advantage of the kindness of family and to continue to do that with everybody who needs this.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3726, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: “A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make temporary lodging facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs available for certain individuals on a space available basis, and for other purposes.”.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.