Summary
- The Senate passed bills aiding veterans and farmers.
- Bills fund veterans’ medical care, benefits fully.
- Agriculture bill boosts research, rural housing
support. - Wisconsin legislators call it a big win.
- Bipartisan bills protect critical funding for 2026.
Senator Tammy Baldwin helped construct the
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill, which she
says
“fully funds veterans’ medical care and benefits and invests in critical
national security infrastructure while implementing new provisions to hold the
executive branch more accountable to deliver for our veterans.”
The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and
Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill was also approved; it
“provides essential funding for agricultural research and rural rental
assistance, and fully funds WIC without benefits cuts.”
The bill allocates $114.9 billion for discretionary VA medical care, an increase of
$2.2 billion over 2025, covering essential health services for over 9.2 million
veterans.
It includes $49.8 billion in mandatory funding
for health care related to toxic exposures under the PACT Act, expanded rural
health access with $342 million for transportation and telehealth, caregivers’
support at $3.5 billion, women’s health services, homelessness prevention
funding, mental health services with $698 million for suicide prevention, and
additional child care funding for veterans attending medical appointments.
A specific amendment requires the VA to
implement plans supporting community-based veteran service officers who help
veterans access benefits and services.
Baldwin says of the measures,
“I worked with my
Democratic and Republican colleagues to advance two bipartisan bills that address
the needs of our farmers, veterans, and rural communities for the upcoming
year. I’ll be working to protect this critical funding as we get these bills
over the finish line in the House and passed into law.”
How exactly will the bills improve support for
veterans and farmers in Wisconsin and beyond?
Caregiver support is increased to $3.5 billion,
$235 million above the president’s request, ensuring better coverage for those
assisting veterans. Mental health services receive $18.9 billion, including
$698 million for suicide prevention programs.
Additional investments are made in women’s
health, veteran homelessness prevention ($3.5 billion), and childcare programs
($21.7 million) for veterans needing child care during medical visits.
The legislation includes mandates to improve
collaboration between county, state, and tribal Veterans Service Officers to
enhance service delivery. The Dairy Business Innovation Initiative receives $12
million, supporting dairy industry innovation and helping address market
volatility.
