H.R. 3944

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026

Sponsor: John R. Carter · 0 cosponsors

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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026

This bill provides FY2026 appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for activities and programs related to military construction, veterans, agriculture, and the legislative branch.

Specifically, the bill includes 3 of the 12 regular FY2026 appropriations bills:

  • the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026;
  • the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026; and
  • the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026.

The departments, agencies, and activities funded in the bill include

  • Department of Defense military construction and family housing activities,
  • the Department of Veterans Affairs,
  • the Department of Agriculture,
  • the Food and Drug Administration,
  • the Senate,
  • various agencies that support Congress, and
  • several related and independent agencies.

(Pursuant to the longstanding practice of each chamber of Congress determining its own requirements, funds for the House of Representatives are not included in the Senate bill.)

The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.

Text of the bill

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A Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

I DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

II

Sec. 231. Since introduced

(a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the toll-free suicide hotline under section 1720F(h) of title 38, United States Code—

(1) provides to individuals who contact the hotline immediate assistance from a trained professional; and

(2) adheres to all requirements of the American Association of Suicidology.

(b)

(1) None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to enforce or otherwise carry out any Executive action that prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from appointing an individual to occupy a vacant civil service position, or establishing a new civil service position, at the Department of Veterans Affairs with respect to such a position relating to the hotline specified in subsection (a).

(2) In this subsection—

(A) the term civil service has the meaning given such term in section 2101(1) of title 5, United States Code; and

(B) the term Executive action includes—

(i) any Executive order, Presidential memorandum, or other action by the President; and

(ii) any agency policy, order, or other directive.

(c)

(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study on the effectiveness of the hotline specified in subsection (a) during the 5-year period beginning on January 1, 2016, based on an analysis of national suicide data and data collected from such hotline.

(2) At a minimum, the study required by paragraph (1) shall—

(A) determine the number of veterans who contact the hotline specified in subsection (a) and who receive follow up services from the hotline or mental health services from the Department of Veterans Affairs thereafter;

(B) determine the number of veterans who contact the hotline who are not referred to, or do not continue receiving, mental health care who commit suicide; and

(C) determine the number of veterans described in subparagraph (A) who commit or attempt suicide.

III

IV

B Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

I AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

II

III RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

IV

V FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS

VI

VII GENERAL PROVISIONS

C Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026

I LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

II GENERAL PROVISIONS