Strong Votes to Fully Fund Veterans, Bolster Military Readiness

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Dale Strong, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, voted today in support of H.R. 3944, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026. The vital legislation championing veterans, supporting military families, and prioritizing infrastructure upgrades, passed the House of Representatives on a 218-206 vote.

Once enacted, this bill will provide essential funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) to support critical investments in military infrastructure, readiness, and the well-being of service members, veterans, and their families.

"I'm proud to support this bill, which delivers on our promises to America's veterans by fully funding their health care and benefits," said Rep. Strong. "It will help improve the lives of our troops and their families with better access to childcare, safer housing, and stronger base infrastructure. This funding bill also makes an effort to fund key construction projects to support readiness and our national security, expands mental health services, combats veteran homelessness, and makes smart investments in the Indo-Pacific to push back against China's growing threat."

NORTH ALABAMA WINS

Representative Strong successfully secured pivotal provisions directly benefiting North Alabama:

Advancing U.S. Space Command Headquarters Plans

One provision advances the U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) Headquarters process and requires a detailed funding plan and report for the necessary facilities investments.

"During the entire USSPACECOM basing process, Redstone Arsenal ranked as the #1 location for the headquarters. Four subsequent DoD Inspector General and GAO reports confirmed that the Air Force made the right choice - Redstone is what is best for national security, the taxpayer, the personnel, and their families," said Strong.

Ensuring Fair Veteran Cemetery Placement

Strong was also successful advancing a provision directing the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) to conduct a report evaluating its veteran population data collection methodology. A 2019 U.S. Government Accountability Office report indicated that if U.S. Census Bureau data were used rather than NCA's current methodology, North Alabama would rank 2nd in need for a VA cemetery.

"Nearly 60,000 veterans call Alabama's Fifth Congressional District home. Those veterans and their families deserve the opportunity to choose a final resting place closer to home. Currently, the closest VA cemeteries are in Corinth, MS, Montevallo, AL, and Chattanooga, TN. I firmly believe that a more accurate data evaluation would make North Alabama a top candidate for a National or VA-grant funded state cemetery," said Strong.

Other wins that will benefit North Alabama include a provision that expresses Congressional support for DoD range operations and supporting facilities, such as Redstone Test Center at Redstone Arsenal, and language directing the Veterans Health Administration to submit a report and recommended legislative changes to improve reimbursement rates, locality adjustments, prescription drug prices for veterans living in VA State Veteran Homes, like the Floyd E "Tut" Fann Home in Huntsville, AL.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Champions our veterans by:

• Fully funding veterans' health care programs.
• Fully funding veterans' benefits and VA programs.
• Supporting President Trump's efforts to combat veteran homelessness by investing in the new Bridging Rental Assistance for Veteran Empowerment program.
• Maintaining funding levels for research, mental health programs, and other programs relied upon by veterans.

Supports the Trump Administration and the mandate of the American people by:

• Protecting the 2nd Amendment rights of veterans by preventing the VA from sending information to the FBI about veterans without a judge's consent.
• Syncing up with President Trump's Executive Orders on no funds for DEI, gender affirming care, and protecting Hyde-like language at the VA.
• Prohibiting the VA from processing medical care claims for illegal aliens.

Bolsters U.S. national security and border protections by:

• Providing robust funding for military construction, enabling continued investment in the Indo-Pacific region, and infrastructure necessary to support advanced weapons systems.
• Maintaining the prohibitions on the closure of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and the use of military construction funds to build facilities for detainees on U.S. soil.
• Prohibiting the VA from purchasing resources directly or indirectly from the People's Republic of China.

DETAILED FUNDING SUMMARY

Department of Defense (Military Construction and Family Housing)

Provides $18 billion for the Department of Defense (DoD) military construction and family housing for the following:

• Planning and design of future barracks to address barrack deficiencies identified by the Government Accountability Office.
• Demolition of excess and obsolete infrastructure, saving taxpayers money and lowering long-term facility maintenance costs at DoD.
• Guard and Reserve facility construction.
• Military Family Housing.
• Child development centers to improve the quality of life of military families.

Department of Veterans Affairs

Provides $452.64 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs for the following:

• Fully funds veterans' medical care
• Fully funds veterans' benefits and toxic exposures-related needs for the Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF).
• Bridging Rental Assistance for Veteran Empowerment program, an innovative effort to end veteran homelessness.

The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 is the first of 12 annual Appropriations bills to pass the House of Representatives.

"I want to thank Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, as well as the MilCon-VA subcommittee Chairman Judge John Carter and Ranking Member Debbie Wasserman-Schultz for their hard work on this critical funding bill," said Strong.