Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies – Member Day

The House Appropriations Committee held a Member Day hearing on March 17, 2026, focusing on the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for fiscal year 2027. Key procurement-related discussions included funding requests for the Roseburg Veterans Home in Oregon, emphasizing the need for full funding to build a new facility serving rural veterans, with the VA grants covering 65% of costs. The committee also heard about the urgent need to maintain and relocate the only commissary serving a large military community near Moffett Federal Airfield, with a lease extension secured but a facility replacement needed by 2029. Additionally, there was a request to increase the VA's operational presence in Guam and the Pacific Islands by expanding staff in leased federal space and planning a new regional VA office to improve veterans' access to benefits and services. The committee expressed bipartisan support for these priorities and committed to working on accommodating these funding and operational needs as the appropriations process advances.