Lankford Secures Major Wins for Oklahoma in Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, DC — US Senator James Lankford (R-OK), today announced more than $230 million in direct investments for Oklahoma’s military installations as well as Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) improvements in the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. The Senate passed this legislation ahead of schedule as part of the first series of appropriations bills to advance since 2018.

“This is another example of the historic legislative work Senate Republicans have accomplished since the American people made their voices heard last November,” said Lankford. “These investments support the safety of our service members, the needs of military families, and ensure our veterans receive the care and respect they deserve. From critical infrastructure at McAlester and Tinker to modernizing the way the VA serves veterans, this bill delivers real, tangible results.”

Lankford Secures $236 Million in Critical Infrastructure Upgrades at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant and Tinker Air Force Base:

• $55 million for the Ammunition Demolition Shop at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant
  Constructs a new facility to safely decommission munitions, protecting workers from exposure to hazardous chemicals like TNT. The project will limit worker exposure and protect the surrounding community.
• $127 million for the Bomber Agile Common Hangar at Tinker Air Force Base
  Builds a new four-dock hangar to support program depot maintenance, sustaining the mission readiness of Tinker’s bomber fleet.

• $54 million for a new Child Development Center at Tinker Air Force Base
  Funds a modern childcare facility for military families, including classrooms, administrative and support spaces, kitchen, storage, and outdoor playgrounds. The facility is designed with advanced safety measures, including tornado shelters and active shooter protection.

Lankford Secures Key Policy and Oversight Victories for Veterans Nationwide:

• Expanding Public/Private Partnerships at the Department of Veterans Affairs
  Encourages the VA to identify and remove barriers to working with private healthcare providers, and private-sector professionals on everything from infrastructure improvements to addressing workforce shortages—especially in rural and underserved areas—to improve access to specialized care and provide a more comprehensive support network. 

• Modernizing Medical Records Distribution
  Directs the VA to assess options for modernizing medical records storage and urges against the use of outdated compact discs to deliver medical records to veterans – the current VA practice. Other federal agencies have already moved to more accessible digital formats or hard-copy mailings, and this provision ensures the VA will follow suit. 

• Prohibiting Bonuses for Underperforming Contractors
  Prohibits federal agencies from awarding bonuses to contractors that fall short of basic contract standards, are over budget, or behind schedule, unless narrowly justified. The federal government has awarded billions of dollars in unwarranted federal bonuses over the past decade. This provision will help save taxpayer dollars by linking bonus to outcomes.

• Protecting Fertility Services for Service-Connected Veterans
  Allows VA Medical Services funds to provide fertility counseling, assisted reproductive technology that includes in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and adoption reimbursement for veterans whose service-connected injuries prevent natural conception. Removes time limits on embryo storage and prohibits funds from being used to create or destroy embryos for research purposes.

• Strengthening Community Care Access and Transparency
  Requires the VA to report on how often veterans’ authorizations for community care are revoked and to explain why. This oversight measure ensures veterans who prefer and qualify for community care receive a timely and uninterrupted authorization to receive that care.

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