H.R. 8469

Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: John R. Carter · 0 cosponsors

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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027

This bill provides FY2027 appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and related agencies.

The bill provides appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for military construction for

  • the Army;
  • the Navy and Marine Corps;
  • the Air Force;
  • Defense-wide agencies and activities;
  • the Army and Air National Guard; and
  • the Army, Navy, and Air Force Reserves.

The bill also provides appropriations to DOD for

  • the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program;
  • the Base Closure Account;
  • Construction and Operation and Maintenance of Family Housing for the Army, the Navy and Marine Corps, the Air Force, and Defense-wide agencies and activities;
  • the Family Housing Improvement Fund; and
  • the Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund.

Within the VA budget, the bill provides appropriations for

  • the Veterans Benefits Administration,
  • the Veterans Health Administration,
  • the National Cemetery Administration,
  • Departmental Administration, and
  • the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund.

The bill provides appropriations for related agencies and programs, including

  • the American Battle Monuments Commission,
  • the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims,
  • Cemeterial Expenses of the Army, and
  • the Armed Forces Retirement Home.

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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I DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

II

Sec. 246. Since introduced

(a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to conduct research commencing on or after July 1, 2025, 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 1, 2025, 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) The Secretary shall submit a biannual report to such Committees 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) 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) The Secretary shall submit an annual report to such Committees 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.

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