---
kind: "diff"
citation: "H.R. 3944"
bill: "119-hr-3944"
heading: "Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026"
from: "rh"
from_label: "Reported in House"
to: "eh"
to_label: "Engrossed in House"
sections_amended: 4
sections_added: 1
sections_removed: 0
url: "https://uscodex.org/bills/119/hr/3944/changes/eh"
---

# H.R. 3944 — what changed

H.R. 3944, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026 — 4 sections amended and 1 added between Reported in House and Engrossed in House.

Edits are marked `<del>struck</del>` and `<ins>inserted</ins>`.

## (unnamed section)

- That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for <ins>the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, for </ins>military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related <del>agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, </del><ins>agencies, </ins>and for other purposes, namely:

## Sec. 246 (unnamed section)

- (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to conduct research commencing on or after July 1, 2025, that uses any canine, feline, or non-human primate unless the Secretary of Veterans Affairs approves such research specifically and in writing pursuant to subsection (b).
- (b)
  - (1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may approve the conduct of research commencing on or after July 1, 2025, using canines, felines, or non-human primates if the Secretary certifies that—
    - (A) the scientific objectives of the research can only be met by using such canines, felines, or non-human primates and cannot be met using other animal models, in vitro models, computational models, human clinical studies, or other research alternatives;
    - (B) such scientific objectives are necessary to advance research <del>benefiting </del><ins>benefitting </ins>veterans and are directly related to an illness or injury that is combat-related as defined by 10 U.S.C. 1413(e);
    - (C) the research is consistent with the revised Department of Veterans Affairs canine research policy document dated December 15, 2017, including any subsequent revisions to such document; and
    - (D) ethical considerations regarding minimizing the harm experienced by canines, felines, or non-human primates are included in evaluating the scientific necessity of the research.
  - (2) The Secretary may not delegate the authority under this subsection.
- (c) If the Secretary approves any new research pursuant to subsection (b), not later than 30 days before the commencement of such research, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives a report describing—
  - (1) the nature of the research to be conducted using canines, felines, or non-human primates;
  - (2) the date on which the Secretary approved the <del>research</del><ins>research;</ins>
  - (3) the USDA pain category on the approved <del>use</del><ins>use;</ins>
  - (4) the justification for the determination of the Secretary that the scientific objectives of such research could only be met using canines, felines, or non-human primates, and methods used to make such determination;
  - (5) the frequency and duration of such research; and
  - (6) the protocols in place to ensure the necessity, safety, and efficacy of the research, and animal welfare.
- (d) Not later than December 31, 2025, and biannually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to such Committees a report describing—
  - (1) any research being conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs using canines, felines, or non-human primates as of the date of the submittal of the report;
  - (2) the circumstances under which such research was conducted using canines, felines, or non-human primates;
  - (3) the justification for using canines, felines, or non-human primates to conduct such research;
  - (4) the protocols in place to ensure the necessity, safety, and efficacy of such research; and
  - (5) the development and adoption of alternatives to canines, felines, or non-human primates research.
- (e) Not later than December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Department of Veterans Affairs must submit to voluntary U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections of canine, feline, and non-human primate research facilities.
- (f) Not later than December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to such Committees a report <del>describing —</del><ins>describing—</ins>
  - (1) any violations of the Animal Welfare Act, the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, or other Department of Veterans Affairs policies related to oversight of animal research found during that quarter in VA research facilities;
  - (2) immediate corrective actions taken; and
  - (3) specific actions taken to prevent their recurrence.
- (g) The Department shall implement a plan under which the Secretary will eliminate the research conducted using canines, felines, or non-human primates by not later than September 20, 2026.

## Sec. 251 (unnamed section)

- Notwithstanding any other law, unless prevented by an order issued by a federal or state court, by no later than September 30, 2026, the Secretary shall commence construction of the Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Bakersfield, California authorized in section 1(a)(3) of Public Law 111–82 and in accordance with Lease <del>No.36C10F20L0008 </del><ins>No. 36C10F20L0008 </ins>or successor lease.

## Sec. 407 (unnamed section)

- (a) Any agency receiving funds made available in this Act, shall, subject to subsections (b) and (c), post on the public Web site of that agency any report required to be submitted by the Congress in this or any other Act, upon the determination by the head of the agency that it shall serve the national interest.
- (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a report if—
  - (1) the public posting of the report compromises national security; or
  - (2) the report contains confidential or proprietary information.
- (c) The head of the agency posting such report shall do so only after such report has been made available to the requesting Committee or Committees of Congress for no less than <del>30days.</del><ins>30 days.</ins>

## Sec. 421 (unnamed section) — added

- <ins>None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs in this Act may be used to enforce Veterans Health Directive 1315 as it relates to—</ins>
- (1) <ins>the policy stating that ‘‘VHA providers are prohibited from completing forms or registering Veterans for participation in a State-approved marijuana program’’;</ins>
- (2) <ins>the directive for the ‘‘Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management’’ to ensure that ‘‘medical facility Directors are aware that it is VHA policy for providers to assess Veteran use of marijuana but providers are prohibited from recommending, making referrals to or completing paperwork for Veteran participation in State marijuana programs’’; and</ins>
- (3) <ins>the directive for the ‘‘VA Medical Facility Director’’ to ensure that ‘‘VA facility staff are aware of the following’’ ‘‘[t]he prohibition recommending, making referrals to or completing forms and registering Veterans for participation in State- approved marijuana programs’’.</ins>