Alford Votes to Fund Veterans’ Benefits, Improve Servicemember Quality of Life

Today, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) voted to pass H.R. 8469, the Military Constructions, Veterans Affairs, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2027. H.R. 8469 fully funds veterans’ healthcare and benefits, while investing in robust military construction to improve servicemembers’ quality of life and ensure our armed forces are prepared for future threats. Watch Congressman Alford’s remarks on the House floor in support of H.R. 8469 here . Fourth District priorities secured in the FY27 MilCon-VA bill include provisions to: Increase transparency for fees paid to attorneys and consultants to help with VA claims and appeals to ensure our veterans and taxpayers are not being ripped off. Increase funding for the Toxic Exposures Fund to $54.6 billion, while ensuring previous appropriations to the fund remain available until expended. Enhance the VAs utilization of technology, modernize its IT, and encourage adoption of AI to expedite Veterans’ claims and processing, improve data security, and expand access to care. Instruct the Army to evaluate all buildings built before 1950 for safety, mission readiness, and needs related to improving these facilities. This would include the outdated Central Issuing Facility at Fort Leonard Wood. Congressman Alford’s amendment to emphasize the importance of creating a pilot program under the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program to such educational assistance to no less than 1,000 students who are a dependent of a veteran and prepare them to be successful in college or some other post-high school educational program was included in the bill. Background on the FY27 MilCon-VA Appropriations bill: Veterans Support & Services Fully funds veterans’ health care programs. Fully funds veterans’ benefits. Maintains funding for: Veterans research programs Mental health services Other core support programs relied upon by veterans Invests over $2 billion in: Capital improvements for VA medical facilities Four national cemeteries Veterans Policy & Administration Priorities Protects Second Amendment rights of veterans by: Preventing the VA from submitting veteran information to the FBI without judicial consent Fully funds the Community Care account, expanding access to: Specialty care Non-VA providers based on individual needs Supports efforts to: Improve veteran mental health outcomes Strengthen suicide prevention initiatives National Security & Military Construction Provides robust funding for military construction, including: Infrastructure supporting advanced weapons systems Strategic investments in the Indo-Pacific region Maintains prohibitions on: Closure of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Use of military construction funds to house detainees on U.S. soil China & Supply Chain Protections Prohibits the VA from: Purchasing goods or services directly from Communist China Indirect procurement linked to Chinese sources ###