The Senate Appropriations Committee has advanced the FY26 Labor-HHS bill, proposing a funding boost for NIH and including supportive language for Facilities & Administrative (F&A) costs.

This is a promising step forward for medical research and a strong bipartisan signal that science—and the well-being of our nation’s Veterans—remains a priority.

NIH funding is essential to VA research. These resources support VA investigators driving breakthroughs in mental health, chronic disease, traumatic injury, and more.

At NAVREF, we applaud Senate leadership for prioritizing this investment. Veterans rely on research-driven advances to improve their quality of life—and this bill helps make that possible.

Read our full statement here.