The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would adopt commercial building codes and standards where possible under a bipartisan bill recently cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
Specifically, the Faster Department of Veterans Affairs Construction Act of 2026, S. 4341, would require the VA Secretary to use commercial codes and standards instead of or in addition to federal codes and standards in the construction or alteration of VA facilities.
“The VA’s construction process needs to be faster and more efficient,” Sen. Blackburn said on May 7. “The Faster VA Construction Act would stretch taxpayer dollars by cutting unnecessary red tape, speeding up construction projects, and delivering better facilities for our veterans faster.”
On April 20, Sen. Blackburn signed on as a cosponsor of S. 4341, joining bill sponsor and lead cosponsor, respectively, U.S. Sens. Jim Banks (R-IN) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), who introduced the bill on April 16.
“We should not let red tape get in the way of ensuring our veterans have access to care and services,” said Sen. Hirono. “By allowing VA projects to follow commercial construction codes and standards, the Faster VA Construction Act takes steps to streamline the construction process, reduce costs, and help increase the number of projects VA can get built each year.”
If enacted, S. 4341 would direct the VA to use commercial codes and standards in its construction and leasing projects instead of, or in addition to, unique federal codes and standards where they do not conflict with statutory or regulatory requirements, and direct the department to use commercial codes and standards in three construction or leasing projects, as a pilot, for each of the next five years.
Additionally, the bill would require the VA to report on its use of these authorities, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Blackburn’s office.
The measure is under consideration by the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.