WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 3944 · 119th Congress

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026

Passed SenateEconomics and Public Finance
IntroducedJun 12, 2025
Passed HouseJun 25, 2025
Passed SenateAug 1, 2025
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Passed Senate. Latest step, Sep 18, 2025: Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House requests a conference. The House passed it 218–206 and the Senate passed it 87–9. All 4 of Iowa's representatives voted yes in the House. Both of Iowa's senators voted yes in the Senate.

What it does

Sourced

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026

This bill provides FY2026 appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for activities and programs related to military construction, veterans, agriculture, and the legislative branch.

Specifically, the bill includes 3 of the 12 regular FY2026 appropriations bills:

• the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026;

• the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026; and

• the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026.

The departments, agencies, and activities funded in the bill include

• Department of Defense military construction and family housing activities,

• the Department of Veterans Affairs,

• the Department of Agriculture,

• the Food and Drug Administration,

• the Senate,

• various agencies that support Congress, and

• several related and independent agencies.

(Pursuant to the longstanding practice of each chamber of Congress determining its own requirements, funds for the House of Representatives are not included in the Senate bill.)

The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Passed Senate, Aug 1, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

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  1. Aug 1, 2025Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate under the order of 8/1/2025, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 87 - 9. Record Vote Number: 480. Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
  2. Jul 17, 2025Committee on Appropriations. Reported by Senator Boozman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-43.Library of Congress
  3. Jun 25, 2025Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 206 (Roll no. 182). Roll call recordLibrary of Congress

Show all 59 recorded actions

Recorded votes

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  1. Jun 25, 2025 · HousePassed 218–206
    On Passage · needed a majority
    R 216 yes, 0 noD 2 yes, 206 noEach member · Record
  2. Aug 1, 2025 · SenateBill Passed 87–9
    Iowa: Joni Ernst yes, Chuck Grassley yes
    On Passage of the Bill · needed three-fifths
    R 49 yes, 2 noI 1 yes, 1 noD 37 yes, 6 noEach member · Record
14 other recorded votes (procedure and amendments)
  1. Jun 25, 2025 · HouseFailed 208–216
    On Motion to Recommit · needed a majority
    R 0 yes, 216 noD 208 yes, 0 noEach member · Record
  2. Jul 22, 2025 · SenateMotion to Proceed Agreed to 50–48
    Iowa: Joni Ernst yes, Chuck Grassley yes
    On the Motion to Proceed · needed a majority
    R 50 yes, 1 noI 0 yes, 2 noD 0 yes, 45 noEach member · Record
  3. Jul 22, 2025 · SenateCloture on the Motion to Proceed Agreed to 91–7
    Iowa: Joni Ernst yes, Chuck Grassley yes
    On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed · needed three-fifths
    R 50 yes, 1 noI 1 yes, 1 noD 40 yes, 5 noEach member · Record
  4. Jul 23, 2025 · SenateMotion to Proceed Agreed to 90–8
    Iowa: Joni Ernst yes, Chuck Grassley yes
    On the Motion to Proceed · needed a majority
    R 49 yes, 2 noI 1 yes, 1 noD 40 yes, 5 noEach member · Record
  5. Aug 1, 2025 · SenateMotion Rejected 44–51
    On the Motion · needed three-fifths
    R 0 yes, 51 noI 2 yes, 0 noD 42 yes, 0 noEach member · Record
  6. Aug 1, 2025 · SenateAmendment Rejected 44–51
    On the Amendment · needed a majority
    R 0 yes, 51 noI 2 yes, 0 noD 42 yes, 0 noEach member · Record
  7. Aug 1, 2025 · SenateAmendment Rejected 42–53
    On the Amendment · needed a majority
    R 0 yes, 51 noI 2 yes, 0 noD 40 yes, 2 noEach member · Record
  8. Aug 1, 2025 · SenateAmendment Rejected 45–50
    On the Amendment · needed a majority
    R 1 yes, 50 noI 2 yes, 0 noD 42 yes, 0 noEach member · Record
  9. Aug 1, 2025 · SenateAmendment Rejected 14–81
    On the Amendment · needed a majority
    R 14 yes, 37 noI 0 yes, 2 noD 0 yes, 42 noEach member · Record
  10. Aug 1, 2025 · SenateAmendment Rejected 15–81
    On the Amendment · needed a majority
    R 15 yes, 36 noI 0 yes, 2 noD 0 yes, 43 noEach member · Record
  11. Aug 1, 2025 · SenateAmendment Rejected 21–75
    On the Amendment · needed a majority
    R 21 yes, 30 noI 0 yes, 2 noD 0 yes, 43 noEach member · Record
  12. Aug 1, 2025 · SenateAmendment Agreed to 87–9
    Iowa: Joni Ernst yes, Chuck Grassley yes
    On the Amendment · needed three-fifths
    R 49 yes, 2 noI 1 yes, 1 noD 37 yes, 6 noEach member · Record
  13. Aug 1, 2025 · SenateAmendment Agreed to 81–15
    Iowa: Joni Ernst yes, Chuck Grassley yes
    On the Amendment · needed a majority
    R 42 yes, 9 noI 1 yes, 1 noD 38 yes, 5 noEach member · Record
  14. Sep 11, 2025 · HouseFailed 211–213
    On Motion to Instruct Conferees · needed a majority
    R 2 yes, 213 noD 209 yes, 0 noEach member · Record