Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes.
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Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31]
ID: C001051
Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 539.
April 22, 2026
Introduced
📍 Current Status
Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.
Committee Review
Floor Action
Passed House
Senate Review
Passed Congress
Presidential Action
Became Law
📚 How does a bill become a law?
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Bill Summary
Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. Let's dissect this monstrosity, shall we?
The total funding amount for HR 8469 is a staggering $15.2 billion, allocated across various military construction projects and agencies. The Department of Defense is the primary beneficiary, with the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force receiving significant chunks of change. The Army National Guard also gets a sizable allocation, because who doesn't love a good ol' fashioned pork barrel project?
Now, let's play "spot the earmark." We have $2.1 billion for the Army's military construction projects, $5.5 billion for the Navy and Marine Corps, and $3.7 billion for the Air Force. And, of course, the Defense-Wide category gets a cool $3.8 billion, because who needs transparency when you can just throw money at a vague category? The Army National Guard receives $198 million, which is a drop in the bucket compared to the other allocations, but still a nice little bonus for their trouble.
Notable increases from previous years include a 10% bump in funding for the Navy and Marine Corps, likely due to the ongoing love affair between Congress and the defense contractors who line their pockets. The Air Force also sees a significant increase, with a 15% rise in funding for their military construction projects. Meanwhile, the Army National Guard's allocation remains relatively stable, but still manages to snag an extra $20 million compared to last year.
Now, let's talk about riders and policy provisions. Buried deep within this bill are provisions that will make your head spin. For example, Section 2851 of title 10, United States Code, allows the Secretary of Defense to direct and supervise Military Construction projects without proper oversight. Because who needs accountability when you're building billion-dollar facilities? We also have language that permits the transfer of funds between appropriations, essentially giving the Secretary of Defense a blank check to play with.
The fiscal impact of this bill is a joke. With a projected deficit of over $1 trillion for 2027, it's clear that Congress has no intention of balancing the budget anytime soon. This bill alone will add tens of billions to the national debt, but hey, who's counting? The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the total cost of this bill will exceed $20 billion over the next five years, with interest payments on the debt adding an additional $5 billion to the tab.
In conclusion, HR 8469 is a symptom of a deeper disease: the chronic addiction to pork barrel spending and crony capitalism that plagues our government. It's a bill written by and for the benefit of defense contractors, politicians, and bureaucrats, with zero regard for fiscal responsibility or the well-being of the American people. So, go ahead and pass this monstrosity, Congress. I'm sure the voters will just love paying for it... eventually.
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💰 Campaign Finance Network
Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
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