During debate on the House floor, Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) spoke in opposition to HR 3944, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026.
00:00I yield one minute to the gentleman from Florida, my colleague and friend, Mr. Frost.
00:05Gentleman's recognized.
00:07Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
00:08You know, the theme for congressional Republicans as Congress is putting corporations over people.
00:14And that's exactly what they're doing in this bill.
00:15Instead of focusing on supporting our veterans, they've added one of the most reckless giveaways to the gun lobby that we've ever seen.
00:23Gutting the national instant criminal background check system.
00:26The very system that keeps guns out of the hands of abusers, felons, and people who might be a danger to themselves and others.
00:34Republicans want to ensure that even if the VA determines that a veteran has a mental health condition to the point where they can't cash their own check.
00:44The check has to be given to a family member because they're going through a crisis.
00:48Congressional Republicans want that person to be able to go to a gun store and buy a weapon.
00:53Second, most veteran suicides involve firearms.
00:58This will deeply worsen the veteran suicide crisis.
01:02This does not protect veterans' rights.
01:04This protects the gun lobby profits over the lives of our veterans.
01:08If you vote for this, you are voting for veterans to die.
01:12Don't let them tell you this bill is about liberty and freedom because there's no...
01:15I yield to the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.
01:20Gentleman's recognized.
01:21Don't let anyone tell you this bill is about liberty and freedom because there is no liberty in a coffin and there is no freedom in a funeral.
01:29Veterans will die if this passes and anyone who votes for it should be ashamed of themselves.
