WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) advanced the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MILCON-VA) funding bill out of the House Appropriations Committee, which he serves on. Congressman Gonzales drafted several key provisions in the bill that benefit Texas military installations and veteran communities from South to West Texas, including El Paso and San Antonio. This legislation fully funds VA benefits and programs.
“I proudly served for 20 years in the U.S. Navy, and I will always stand up for our servicemembers, veterans, and military families in South and West Texas and across the country,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales. “In Congress, I’ve made it a top priority to strengthen Texas’ military installations, enhance quality of life initiatives, retention, and readiness across all branches of our armed forces, and fully fund and expand veterans’ healthcare services and benefits. With the committee’s passage of this bill, we’re one step closer to delivering real results for our military community and our veterans.”
Priorities for South and West Texas Included in the FY26 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Bill Secured by Congressman Tony Gonzales:
- Funding for the planning and design of an Army Reserve Center to enhance training and mission support at Camp Bullis in San Antonio
- Support for the expedited planning and design of reconstruction efforts at Audie Murphy Veterans Hospital in San Antonio
- Expanded rural healthcare access, including rural transportation services, for veterans in Texas and across the U.S.
- Support for the expansion of dental care van services for veterans in rural areas like Val Verde County, Texas, and across the U.S.
- Funding for breakthrough therapies for PTSD and other mental health treatments for veterans
- Support for the timely construction of new VA medical facilities in El Paso at Fort Bliss
- Investments in programs that support housing accommodations for homeless veterans
- Investments in programs that support specialized care for women veterans and childcare services
- Funding for the upkeep and maintenance of national cemeteries, including Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio
- Support for ceremonies at national cemeteries, including the Veterans Day Ceremony at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery in San Antonio
- Support for the readjustment of Post 9/11 GI Bill Books and Supplies Stipend based on an adjusted inflation rate
Key Provisions in the FY26 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Bill Advanced by Congressman Tony Gonzales:
- Fully funds veterans’ health care programs
- Fully funds veterans’ benefits and VA programs
- Supports President Trump’s efforts to combat veteran homelessness by investing in the new Bridging Rental Assistance for Veteran Empowerment program
- Maintains funding levels for research, mental health programs, and other programs relied upon by veterans
- Provides robust funding for military construction, enabling continued investment in the Indo-Pacific region, and infrastructure necessary to support the United States’ advanced weapons systems
- Maintains the prohibitions on the closure of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the use of military construction funds to build facilities for detainees on U.S. soil
- Prohibits the VA from purchasing resources directly or indirectly from the People’s Republic of China
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