Fong Celebrates House Passage of Funding for Military Infrastructure, Veterans Support, and Quality of Life Improvements

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8469, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027 (MilCon/VA). Rep. Vince Fong (CA-20) voted yes. The bill includes critical investments in military infrastructure that support readiness, veterans' health, support services, and commitments to the well-being of military families.

"I am proud to provide essential support and resources for our warfighters, military families, and veterans," said Rep. Fong. "This legislation ensures our military is ready to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow, while making important investments in the quality of life of our military families and those who have served. I secured critical funds for the AFRL Rocket Lab that will strengthen defense operations and security at Edwards AFB. This legislation delivers wins for our military installations, the servicemembers who call them home, and our veteran community."

"We appreciate Congressman Vince Fong for recognizing the strategic importance of supporting both military readiness and the communities that stand behind those who serve," said Stephen Farmer, China LakeAlliance Executive Director. "This legislation reflects a strong commitment to the servicemembers, veterans, and military families who are vital to both our national security and the economic strength of California's military communities. Investments in infrastructure, housing, research, and veterans' care at installations like Edwards Air Force Base and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake will help ensure these missions remain ready, resilient, and capable for decades to come."

"The continued modernization and upgrade of our nation's military installation gates is crucial, to include having the proper areas and equipment for inspections," said Dr. Shawn Phillips, retired chief of the Rocket Propulsion Division. "The funding for the AFRL Rocket Lab's inspection area removes existing traffic bottlenecks while upgrading the security and safety at the site."

"East Kern's military installations play a crucial role in providing our warfighters with the capabilities they need to assure our nation's security," said Justin Salters, California Project Lead for the Griffiss Institute. "We appreciate Rep. Fong's leadership to fund much needed construction projects at AFRL Rocket Lab and address infrastructure and housing needs at NAWS China Lake and Edwards AFB."

Thanks to Rep. Fong's advocacy, H.R. 8469 provides direct support to CA-20 and its military installations:

• $4,500,000 to Construct Vehicle Search Area at the AFRL Rocket Lab, Edwards Air Force Base
  • Secures funding to construct a dedicated Vehicle Search Area at the AFRL Rocket Lab Gate Entry Control Point (ECP) at Edwards Air Force Base. This project will strengthen installation security, improve access control, and support the base's critical research and development mission.
• Oversight and Infrastructure Improvements at NAWS China Lake
  • Directs the Navy to continue upgrading aging infrastructure at Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake and provide Congress with semi-annual briefings on ongoing challenges and progress. The effort is aimed at ensuring the installation has the resources necessary to support mission readiness and its tenant commands.
• Addressing Housing Needs at Edwards Air Force Base
  • Requires the Air Force to brief Congress on current and projected housing shortages tied to mission growth at Edwards AFB. The review will examine options to expand housing capacity and consider housing needs for the workforce at Edwards AFB, including at the AFRL Rocket Lab and NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center.
• Advancing Construction of the Bakersfield Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
  • Pushes the Department of Veterans Affairs to finally begin construction of the long-delayed Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Bakersfield or relocate services to a temporary facility while construction proceeds.
• Increased Accountability for VA Delays in Bakersfield CBOC Project
  • Requires the VA to examine the repeated delays surrounding the Bakersfield CBOC project and identify legislative fixes to prevent similar failures in the future. Congress will also receive monthly updates on construction progress until the clinic is completed and operational.

Overall, the bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $157 billion, which is nearly $4 billion (3%) above the Fiscal Year 2026 enacted level. It provides $323.9 billion for mandatory programs, for a total of $469.49 billion in overall funding for Fiscal Year 2027. Additionally, the legislation:

Supports veterans by:

• Providing $450.29 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs
• Fully funding veterans' medical care at $138.2 billion, including $54.6 billion for the Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF).
• Fully funding veterans' benefits and health care programs.
• Maintaining funding for research, mental health programs, and other programs relied upon by veterans.
• Investing over $2 billion in capital improvements for VA Medical Facilities and four national cemeteries.
• Fully funding the Community Care account, which empowers veterans to seek specialty care to meet their unique needs.
• Supporting the Trump Administration's efforts in improving mental health and suicide prevention among veterans.

Bolsters U.S. national security by:

• Providing $19.2 billion for the Department of Defense (DoD) military construction and family housing.
• Providing robust funding for military construction, enabling continued investment in the Indo-Pacific region and infrastructure necessary to support United States advanced weapons systems.
• Prohibiting the VA from purchasing resources directly or indirectly from the Chinese Communist Party.