Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026
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Plain English Summary
AI-generatedPlain-English Summary: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026
This bill is a federal spending bill that funds three broad areas of the U.S. government for the 2026 fiscal year: military construction projects and veterans' programs, agricultural programs and food assistance, and the day-to-day operations of Congress itself. Appropriations bills like this one are how Congress officially authorizes the government to spend money — without them, federal agencies and programs cannot operate or pay their staff. While the full text details have not been provided here, bills of this type typically set funding levels for things like building and maintaining military bases, providing healthcare and benefits to veterans, supporting farmers and rural communities, and running congressional offices and support agencies.
The people most directly affected by this bill include U.S. military veterans who rely on the Department of Veterans Affairs for healthcare, disability benefits, housing assistance, and other services. Active-duty military personnel and their families may also be affected, as the military construction portion funds housing, training facilities, and infrastructure on bases. Farmers, rural residents, and low-income families who depend on programs run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — such as crop insurance, rural development loans, nutrition assistance, and food safety oversight — would also be impacted by the funding decisions in this bill.
Currently, the bill is in a conference process between the House and Senate, meaning the two chambers have passed different versions and need to negotiate a final agreement. A bipartisan group of House members has been appointed as official negotiators (called "conferees") to work out those differences with their Senate counterparts. Notably, a recent procedural vote to give the House conferees specific negotiating instructions narrowly failed, meaning the negotiators have broader flexibility in reaching a deal. The final agreed-upon version would then need to pass both chambers before being sent to the President for signature.
This summary is AI-generated for informational purposes. Always refer to the official bill text for legal accuracy.
Latest Action
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House requests a conference.
September 18, 2025
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Legislative History
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House requests a conference.
Sep 18, 2025Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House instruct conferees Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 211 - 213 (Roll no. 263). (consideration: CR H4249-4250: 2)
Sep 11, 2025On motion that the House instruct conferees Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 211 - 213 (Roll no. 263). (consideration: CR H4249)
Sep 11, 2025Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 11, 2025The Speaker appointed conferees: Cole, Aderholt, Carter of Texas, Harris of Maryland, Valadao, Newhouse, Moolenaar, Rutherford, Cline, Hinson, Letlow, Guest, Zinke, Bice, Scott Franklin of Florida, LaLota, Strong, Maloy, Moore of West Virginia, DeLauro, Hoyer, Kaptur, Bishop, Wasserman Schultz, Cuellar, Pingree, Quigley, Espaillat, Underwood, Levin, Escobar, and Perez.
Sep 11, 2025Mr. Cole moved to take from the Speaker's table the bill H.R. 3944, with the Senate amendment thereto, disagree to the Senate amendment and request a conference.
Sep 10, 2025Mr. Cole moved that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and request a conference.
Sep 10, 2025The previous question was ordered without objection.
Sep 10, 2025Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and request a conference Agreed to by voice vote.
Sep 10, 2025On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and request a conference Agreed to by voice vote.
Sep 10, 2025Ms. DeLauro moved that the House instruct conferees.
Sep 10, 2025DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the DeLauro motion to instruct conferees.
Sep 10, 2025The previous question was ordered without objection.
Sep 10, 2025POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the DeLauro motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 3944, the Chair put the question on motion to instruct conferees and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Ms. DeLauro demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
Sep 10, 2025Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Aug 8, 2025Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S5189-5200)
Aug 1, 2025The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.
Aug 1, 2025Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate under the order of 8/1/2025, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 87 - 9. Record Vote Number: 480.
Aug 1, 2025Passed Senate under the order of 8/1/2025, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 87 - 9. Record Vote Number: 480.
Aug 1, 2025Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4577)
Jul 23, 2025Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 90 - 8. Record Vote Number: 428.
Jul 23, 2025Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S4588; text: CR S4588-4598)
Jul 23, 2025Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4515)
Jul 22, 2025Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 91 - 7. Record Vote Number: 423. (CR S4520)
Jul 22, 2025Committee on Appropriations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 17, 2025Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4449)
Jul 17, 2025Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 121.
Jul 17, 2025Committee on Appropriations. Reported by Senator Boozman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-43.
Jul 17, 2025Committee on Appropriations. Reported by Senator Boozman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-43.
Jul 17, 2025Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S4449)
Jul 17, 2025Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Jun 30, 2025On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 208 - 216 (Roll no. 181).
Jun 25, 2025Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3944, H.R. 275, H.R. 875 and H. Res. 516. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3944 under a structured rule and H.R. 275, H.R. 875, and H.Res. 516 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on H.R. 3944, H.R. 275, and H.R. 875.
Jun 25, 2025House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 530 and Rule XVIII.
Jun 25, 2025The Speaker designated the Honorable Barry Loudermilk to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Jun 25, 2025GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 3944.
Jun 25, 2025DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 530, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Carter (TX) amendment en bloc No. 1.
Jun 25, 2025DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 530, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Carter (TX) amendment en bloc No. 2.
Jun 25, 2025POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Carter (TX) amendment en bloc No. 2, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Wasserman Schultz demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed proceedings until a time to be announced.
Jun 25, 2025DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 530, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Correa amendment No. 8.
Jun 25, 2025Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 530. (consideration: CR H2937; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2941-2951)
Jun 25, 2025Mr. Carter (TX) moved that the committee rise.
Jun 25, 2025On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
Jun 25, 2025Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 3944 as unfinished business.
Jun 25, 2025Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2957)
Jun 25, 2025The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
Jun 25, 2025The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3944.
Jun 25, 2025The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Jun 25, 2025The House adopted the amendments en gros as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Jun 25, 2025Ms. Kaptur moved to recommit to the Committee on Appropriations. (CR H2958)
Jun 25, 2025The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
Jun 25, 2025DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 530, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Joyce (OH) amendment No. 21.
Jun 25, 2025Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jun 25, 2025On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 206 (Roll no. 182).
Jun 25, 2025Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 206 (Roll no. 182).
Jun 25, 2025Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 530 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3944, H.R. 275, H.R. 875 and H. Res. 516. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3944 under a structured rule and H.R. 275, H.R. 875, and H.Res. 516 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on H.R. 3944, H.R. 275, and H.R. 875.
Jun 23, 2025The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-161, by Mr. Carter (TX).
Jun 12, 2025The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-161, by Mr. Carter (TX).
Jun 12, 2025Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 128.
Jun 12, 2025