MilCon-VA spending bill passes, helps Marianas vets
The House passed on Wednesday H.R. 3944, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 2026. The bill supports those who have sacrificed for our country by fully funding veterans’ health care, benefits, and other critical programs under the Department of Veterans Affairs and invests in military construction. The report accompanying the MilCon-VA bill also includes report language I requested that benefit the Marianas including:
Biosecurity for Northern Mariana Islands. Because the expansion of military infrastructure and operations in the Northern Mariana Islands increases the risk of invasive species introduction, the Navy is required to produce a report on the necessity and feasibility of establishing a biosecurity inspection facility in the Northern Mariana Islands.
Port Improvements on Tinian Island. The Committee notes that the Department of the Navy has previously acknowledged the critical nature of the Tinian Port Joint Area Development Plan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Navy will report on military construction projects under consideration to support port operations on Tinian, design options to maximize training capabilities, coordination efforts with the Commonwealth Ports Authority, and actions to accelerate these projects.
Solid Waste Management on Tinian. The Air Force, in coordination with the Governor, will provide a report on the development of a comprehensive solid waste management plan, including the possible development of a new landfill that can be jointly utilized by both the U.S. military and the Municipality of Tinian.
Support for FAS Veterans. Since the passage of the compact renewals (Public Law 118–42), the VA is no longer restricted from providing services to veterans residing in the Freely Associated States. The VA will provide estimated costs and plan for implementing the law.
The FY 2026 veterans spending bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.