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Legislative bills

Senate Passes Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; and Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Funding Bills for Fiscal Year 2026

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) played a crucial role in securing key priorities for Illinois as the Senate passed two critical government funding bills for Fiscal Year 2026. The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA funding bills will provide vital support for veterans, agricultural communities, and rural development initiatives. The bipartisan passage of these bills demonstrates the importance of investing in community development and family well-being.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Senate passed two government funding bills: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA.
  • The bills will provide $943 million to support ongoing and new research in areas such as toxic exposures, traumatic brain injury, and precision oncology for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • $3.5 billion is allocated to expand training, benefits, and services for caregivers through the Caregivers Program.
  • The State of Illinois has committed to providing funding for the National Guard Readiness Center facility in Peoria, Illinois, with a total investment of $8 million, as part of a cost-share effort with the federal government.

Key Priorities for Illinois:

  • Forging Equipment Annex, Rock Island, Illinois, $5 million to house the expanding forging capability at Rock Island Arsenal-Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center consistent with Department of Defense safety and building standards.
  • Marseilles Range Control, Marseilles, Illinois, $3.05 million to renovate and modernize an existing operations and maintenance facility for the Illinois Army Guard.
  • National Guard Readiness Center, Peoria, Illinois, $8 million for a new readiness center facility for the Illinois Army Guard.
  • New Weapons Quality Assurance/Calibration Facility, Rock Island, Illinois, $4.25 million.

Key Initiatives in the Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Funding Bills:

  • USDA Bee Genome, $3 million, an increase of $750,000 from FY25, to continue sequencing the genome of more than 4,000 domestic bee species.
  • Agricultural Research, $3.2 billion for basic food and agricultural research nationwide.
  • Plant Health, Tree and Wood Pests, $59 million to help identify and contain wood-boring pests threatening tree health across the country.
  • Animal Welfare, $27 million to implement and enforce provisions of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

Statistics:

  • $943 million to support ongoing and new research in areas such as toxic exposures, traumatic brain injury, and precision oncology.
  • $3.5 billion to expand training, benefits, and services for caregivers.
  • $171 million to provide state veterans homes with resources for renovations and new construction.
  • $1.4 billion to advance, promote, and provide specialized care for the health of a growing number of women veterans.
  • $5.9 billion for the VA's IT systems.

Sources:

  • Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
  • Source: U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin
  • Source: Senate Appropriations Committee
  • Source: USDA Bee Genome research
  • Source: Agricultural Research initiative
  • Source: Plant Health, Tree and Wood Pests funding

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