Bean Puts America’s Veterans, Military Families First

WASHINGTON-U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) released the following statement after the House approved H.R. 8469, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027.

Congressman Bean said, "We have a duty to support and care for those who have shown courage of conviction through their selfless service to our nation. This legislation fully funds veterans' healthcare and benefits, and makes significant investments in mental health, suicide prevention, and homelessness programs. It also provides critical investments in military infrastructure that supports military readiness and improves the quality of life for our service members and their families."

Congressman Bean passed the following amendments as part of the funding bill:

• Amendment #104: Expands the use of data analytics and program integrity tools used to detect improper payments, duplicate claims, and organized fraud schemes within VA benefits and community care programs.
• Amendment #105: Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General to conduct a comprehensive audit of improper payments, unused or duplicative software contracts, redundant consulting agreements, and stale unliquidated obligations across VA administrative offices, and to provide Congress with recommendations to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Champions our veterans by:

• Fully funding veterans' health care programs and benefits
• 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

Supports the mandate of the American people by:

• Fully funding the Community Care account, which empowers veterans to seek specialty care to meet their unique needs
• Supporting efforts in improving mental health and suicide prevention among veterans.

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 United States 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 Communist China.
  

The measure passed by a vote of 400 to 15.

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