Congressman Ed Case Votes Against FY 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Appropriations Funding Measure

Strategic Insights -

Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, voted against the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations funding measure. The bill would fund worldwide military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and various small agencies and programs supporting the nation's 19 million veterans, including 112,000 in Hawai'i. Case stated that he opposed the bill due to its shortcomings in addressing critical military infrastructure needs, pursuing the privatization of VA medical care, and shortchanging dedicated funding for Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) cleanup.

Key Takeaways:

  • The FY 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations funding measure would provide $453.6 billion for Department of Defense (DoD) military construction and family housing, with $480 million above the FY 2025 enacted level.
  • The bill funds essential veterans programs, including $131.4 billion for veterans' medical care and $1.3 billion for specific care for women veterans.
  • Congressman Ed Case voted against the bill due to its failure to address critical military infrastructure needs throughout the Indo-Pacific, despite one milcon project being located in the region.
  • The bill proposes a privatization of veterans health care, which contradicts the opposition of veterans to receive medical care in the private sector.
  • Positive provisions secured by Case include fully funding the budget request for veterans' medical care and supporting the Office of Women's Health, including its childcare initiative.
  • The measure continues support for the VA Center for Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and United States-affiliated Pacific Islander (NHPIUSAPI) Veterans, which coordinates research from all over the Pacific Islands and the United States to address veterans' healthcare in the Hawaiian Islands and throughout the Pacific.
  • The bill includes $133.7 billion in discretionary spending for veterans-related programs, an increase of $4.7 billion above the FY 2025 enacted level.

Statistics:

  • $453.6 billion for Department of Defense (DoD) military construction and family housing.
  • $480 million above the FY 2025 enacted level.
  • $131.4 billion for veterans' medical care.
  • $1.3 billion for specific care for women veterans.
  • $133.7 billion in discretionary spending for veterans-related programs, with an increase of $4.7 billion above the FY 2025 enacted level.
  • 112,000 veterans residing in Hawai'i.
  • 19 million veterans across the nation.
  • 3.4 billion for the Veterans' Homelessness Program Resources Account.
  • $342 million for Rural Health Initiatives.
  • $106 million for the American Battle Monument Commission.
  • $60 million for the VA Grants for the Construction of Veterans Cemeteries Program.

Sources:

  • Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
  • U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) (Washington, DC) -- United States House of Representatives.
  • The committee report explaining the full bill in detail is available here.
  • A summary of the VA-MilCon funding bill is available here.