Rep. Ogles Passes Several Amendments to 2026 MilCon VA Bill

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05) proposed several amendments that were included in the final passage of H.R.3944, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026. Included is one that would ensure veterans' current access to specialty care is preserved.

"The men and women who have served our country deserve to have excellent care. I introduced an amendment to this year's appropriations bill that would preserve veterans' access to specialty care, specifically if they need to seek treatment at a private healthcare facility due to unexpectedly long wait times at VA locations or because of a proximity issue," said Congressman Ogles. "Fighting for the best options for our veterans is a top priority of mine, and it has been since first arriving in Congress. It is because of their brave sacrifice that we are able to enjoy our freedoms."

Text of Congressman Ogles' Amendments to the 2026 MilCon VA Bill:

Ogles (TN) #59 - Increases and decreases funding for host nation support by $1,000,000 to direct the Secretary of the Army to submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Chambers of Congress a report detailing, for (10 minutes) each overseas installation at which host nation support funds were obligated or expended during fiscal years 2025 and 2026: (1) the total U.S. contribution to military construction costs; (2) the total host nation financial contribution to the same projects; and (3) the ratio of U.S.-tohost nation expenditure expressed as a percentage of total project cost.

Ogles (TN) #64 - Prohibits funds made available by this Act from being used to prepare more than one environmental impact statement for the same military construction project identified by the same Department of Defense Form 1391 project number, unless required by court order. The amendment is intended to reduce duplicative environmental review costs and delays for military construction projects.

Ogles (TN) #66 - Prohibits funds made available under the "Medical Community Care" account from being used in a manner inconsistent with the existing specialty care access standards. The amendment preserves current community care eligibility standards relating to veteran wait times and drive times for specialty care services.

Ogles (TN) #72 - Prohibits funds made available under the "Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps" account from being used for architectural and engineering services or construction design for administrative facilities unless such activities support operational, training, maintenance, housing, or infrastructure-related facility categories recognized under the Department of Defense Real Property Categorization System.

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