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. 246. Changed · Aug 1

Where this section came from

  1. Jun 12, 2025 · Reported in House
  2. Jun 25, 2025 · Engrossed in House H.Amdt. 37: An amendment numbered 21 printed in House Report 119-167 to add language to the bill that would prevent any funding for the Veterans Affairs Administration that would interfere with any veteran from participating in a state approved medical marijuana program; deny any department services for any veteran participating in a state legalized program; and limit the ability of any interference of a VA provider from making recommendations to a state legalized program through recommendations, forms, or steps to complete compliance. Official page › H.Amdt. 36: An amendment numbered 8 printed in House Report 119-167 to increase and decrease funding for the Medical and Prosthetic Research account at the Department of Veterans Affairs to direct the Department to evaluate and make recommendations on changes that would need to be made to its existing healthcare infrastructure to integrate approved psychedelic therapies into veterans' care options for conditions such as PTSD and substance use disorders. Official page › H.Amdt. 35: An amendment comprised of the following amendments printed in House Report 119-167 as en bloc No. 2: Nos. 1, 14, 15, 19, 25, 28, and 32. Official page › H.Amdt. 34: An amendment comprised of the following amendments printed in House Report 119-167 as en bloc No. 1: Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, and 30. Official page › H.Res. 530: On Ordering the Previous Question — Passed, 219–208 · Roll Call 176 H.Res. 530: On Agreeing to the Resolution — Passed, 217–206 · Roll Call 177 On Agreeing to the Amendment — Agreed to, 219–206 · Roll Call 180On Motion to Recommit — Failed, 208–216 · Roll Call 181On Passage — Passed, 218–206 · Roll Call 182
  3. Aug 1, 2025 · Engrossed Amendment Senate S.Amdt. 3433: To limit the availability of funds for canceling large contracts without prior notice and explanation to Congress. Official page › S.Amdt. 3432: To prohibit the use of funds to reduce services under the Veterans Crisis Line. Official page › S.Amdt. 3431: To allocate amounts for the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program. Official page › S.Amdt. 3430: To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a report on the use of third-party contractors to conduct medical disability examinations of veterans for purposes of obtaining disability compensation. Official page › S.Amdt. 3418: To provide appropriations to expedite fiber research on industrial hemp and expand cereal research into mycotoxin risk mitigation. Official page › S.Amdt. 3416: To allocate amounts for opioid prevention and treatment programs. Official page › S.Amdt. 3413: To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report on the efforts of the Secretary to review and implement staffing models at the Department of Veterans Affairs that will ensure timely, high quality delivery of health care, benefits, and other services furnished by the Department. Official page › S.Amdt. 3412: To improve the bill. Official page › S.Amdt. 3411: In the nature of a substitute. Official page › S.Amdt. 3409: To allocate amounts for telehealth for veterans. Official page › S.Amdt. 3220: To require a report on funding for State homes for veterans. Official page › S.Amdt. 3208: To require a briefing on the current status, path forward, and timeline to construct a new medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Reno, Nevada. Official page › S.Amdt. 3200: To increase funding for rural decentralized water systems. Official page › S.Amdt. 3190: To increase funding for the Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives Program, with an offset. Official page › S.Amdt. 3163: To fund activities relating to the suppression and control of Mormon crickets and grasshoppers. Official page › S.Amdt. 3110: To require an assessment of the feasibility of expanding the agricultural quarantine and inspection program to products entering Hawaii. Official page › S.Amdt. 3082: To address interment schedule availability at cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery Administration. Official page › S.Amdt. 3081: To provide for the continuation of National Cemetery Administration surveys. Official page › S.Amdt. 3080: To require reports on facilities at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Official page › S.Amdt. 3073: To require a report on New World screwworm readiness and response. Official page › S.Amdt. 3070: To strike a provision relating to hemp. Official page › S.Amdt. 3025: To require a report on veterans participating in the housing choice voucher program. Official page › On the Motion to Proceed — Motion to Proceed Agreed to, 50–48 · Roll Call 422On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed — Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Agreed to, 91–7 · Roll Call 423On the Motion to Proceed — Motion to Proceed Agreed to, 90–8 · Roll Call 428On the Motion — Motion Rejected, 44–51 · Roll Call 472On the Amendment — Amendment Rejected, 44–51 · Roll Call 473On the Amendment — Amendment Rejected, 42–53 · Roll Call 474On the Amendment — Amendment Rejected, 45–50 · Roll Call 475On the Amendment — Amendment Rejected, 14–81 · Roll Call 476On the Amendment — Amendment Rejected, 15–81 · Roll Call 477On the Amendment — Amendment Rejected, 21–75 · Roll Call 478On the Amendment — Amendment Agreed to, 87–9 · Roll Call 479On Passage of the Bill — Bill Passed, 87–9 · Roll Call 480On the Amendment — Amendment Agreed to, 81–15 · Roll Call 481
What changed in the text

(a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to conduct research commencing on or after July the 1, date 2025 of enactment of this Act , that uses any canine, feline, or non-human primate unless the Secretary of Veterans Affairs approves such research specifically and in writing pursuant to subsection (b).

(b)

(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may approve the conduct of research commencing on or after July the 1, date 2025 of enactment of this Act , using canines, felines, or non-human primates if the Secretary certifies that—

… 1 unchanged passage …

(B) such scientific objectives are necessary to advance research benefitting benefiting veterans and are directly related to an illness or injury that is combat-related as defined by 10 U.S.C. 1413(e);

… 10 unchanged passages …

(d) Not later than December 180 31, days 2025 after the date of the enactment of this Act , and biannually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to such Committees a report describing—

… 4 unchanged passages …

(5) the development and adoption of alternatives to canines, felines, or non-human primates primate research. (e) Not later than December 180 31, days 2025 after the date of the enactment of this Act , and annually thereafter, the Department of Veterans Affairs must submit to voluntary U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections of canine, feline, and non-human primate research facilities. (f) Not later than December 180 31, days 2025 after the date of the enactment of this Act , and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to such Committees a report describing—

… 3 unchanged passages …

(g) The Department shall implement a plan under which the Secretary will eliminate the research conducted using canines, felines, or non-human primates by not later than September 2 20, years 2026 after the date of enactment of this Act .

(a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to conduct research commencing on or after the date of enactment of this Act, that uses any canine, feline, or non-human primate unless the Secretary of Veterans Affairs approves such research specifically and in writing pursuant to subsection (b).

(b)

(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may approve the conduct of research commencing on or after the date of enactment of this Act, using canines, felines, or non-human primates if the Secretary certifies that—

(A) the scientific objectives of the research can only be met by using such canines, felines, or non-human primates and cannot be met using other animal models, in vitro models, computational models, human clinical studies, or other research alternatives;

(B) such scientific objectives are necessary to advance research benefiting veterans and are directly related to an illness or injury that is combat-related as defined by 10 U.S.C. 1413(e);

(C) the research is consistent with the revised Department of Veterans Affairs canine research policy document dated December 15, 2017, including any subsequent revisions to such document; and

(D) ethical considerations regarding minimizing the harm experienced by canines, felines, or non-human primates are included in evaluating the scientific necessity of the research.

(2) The Secretary may not delegate the authority under this subsection.

(c) If the Secretary approves any new research pursuant to subsection (b), not later than 30 days before the commencement of such research, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives a report describing—

(1) the nature of the research to be conducted using canines, felines, or non-human primates;

(2) the date on which the Secretary approved the research;

(3) the USDA pain category on the approved use;

(4) the justification for the determination of the Secretary that the scientific objectives of such research could only be met using canines, felines, or non-human primates, and methods used to make such determination;

(5) the frequency and duration of such research; and

(6) the protocols in place to ensure the necessity, safety, and efficacy of the research, and animal welfare.

(d) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and biannually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to such Committees a report describing—

(1) any research being conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs using canines, felines, or non-human primates as of the date of the submittal of the report;

(2) the circumstances under which such research was conducted using canines, felines, or non-human primates;

(3) the justification for using canines, felines, or non-human primates to conduct such research;

(4) the protocols in place to ensure the necessity, safety, and efficacy of such research; and

(5) the development and adoption of alternatives to canines, felines, or non-human primate research.

(e) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Department of Veterans Affairs must submit to voluntary U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections of canine, feline, and non-human primate research facilities.

(f) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to such Committees a report describing—

(1) any violations of the Animal Welfare Act, the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, or other Department of Veterans Affairs policies related to oversight of animal research found during that quarter in VA research facilities;

(2) immediate corrective actions taken; and

(3) specific actions taken to prevent their recurrence.

(g) The Department shall implement a plan under which the Secretary will eliminate the research conducted using canines, felines, or non-human primates by not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

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