Senate Passes Funding Bills for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Agriculture

Strategic Insights -

The US Senate passed two appropriations bills on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). The bills include various priorities for Illinois, secured through both Congressionally Directed Spending requests and the programmatic appropriations process.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Senate passed funding bills for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA, which include various priorities for Illinois.
  • These priorities include $5 million for a Forging Equipment Annex at Rock Island Arsenal-Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center, $3.05 million for a Marseilles Range Control facility, and $8 million for a National Guard Readiness Center in Peoria, Illinois.
  • The bills also include $1.38 million for a Health Clinic in LaHarpe, Illinois, and $645,000 for Hospital Infrastructure Improvements in Watseka, Illinois.
  • The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill includes $943 million for VA Medical and Prosthetic Research, $3.5 billion for the Caregivers Program, and $1.4 billion for Women Veterans Health.
  • The Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA bill includes $3 million to continue sequencing the genome of domestic bee species, $3.2 billion for basic food and agricultural research, and $59 million to help identify and contain wood-boring pests threatening tree health.
  • The bill also includes $1.5 billion for the Food for Peace program, $240 million for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, and $35 million for the Rural e-Connectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect Program).

Statistics:

  • $5 million for the Forging Equipment Annex at Rock Island Arsenal-Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center.
  • $943 million for VA Medical and Prosthetic Research.
  • $350 billion for the Caregivers Program.
  • $1.4 billion for Women Veterans Health.
  • $3 million to continue sequencing the genome of domestic bee species.
  • $3.2 billion for basic food and agricultural research.
  • $59 million to help identify and contain wood-boring pests threatening tree health.
  • $1.5 billion for the Food for Peace program.
  • $240 million for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program.
  • $35 million for the Rural e-Connectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect Program).

Sources:

  • Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) press release, June 23, 2022.
  • Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) press release, June 23, 2022.
  • House Appropriations Committee press release, June 23, 2022.
  • Senate Appropriations Committee press release, June 23, 2022.