Records
Bill· HRH.R. 217 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2025
Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act or the CHIP IN for Veterans Act This bill makes permanent, starting December 16, 2026, the pilot program under which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may accept donations of property or facilities from certain nonfederal entities (e.g., state authorities or private entities). The bill also removes the limit on the number of donations that the VA may accept under the program.
Bill· HRH.R. 530 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
ACES Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study and report on the prevalence and mortality of cancers among veterans who served on active duty as aircrew members and regularly flew in fixed-wing aircraft.
Bill· SS. 124 (119th)open
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act of 2025 or the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025 This bill modifies personnel action procedures regarding certain employees and executives of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill authorizes the VA to remove from civil service, demote, or suspend VA employees that are supervisors or managers if the VA determines by substantial evidence that the performance or misconduct of such individual warrants such action. This authority does not apply to certain appointees or individuals in their probationary or trial period. Supervisors or managers who are subject to a removal, demotion, or suspension under this bill are entitled to (1) advance notice of the action and supporting evidence, (2) representation by an attorney or representative, and (3) grieve the action in accordance with an internal grievance process. The bill also provides protections from removal, demotion, or suspension for supervisor or managers who are whistleblowers or are seeking corrective action for an alleged prohibited personnel practice such as discrimination. The bill also modifies the procedures to remove, demote, or suspend VA employees or senior executives based on performance or misconduct, specifically by requiring the VA to determine by substantial evidence that the performance or misconduct of the individual warrants such removal, demotion, or suspension. Such procedures must apply retroactively, beginning on the date of enactment of the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (June 23, 2017).
Bill· SS. 116 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025
This bill designates the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Dallas, Texas, as the Eddie Bernice Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center or the Eddie Bernice Johnson VA Medical Center.
Bill· HRH.R. 586 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025
Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct an epidemiological study and report on the prevalence of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) in veterans who served in the Vietnam theater of operations during the Vietnam era. The study must identify the rate of incidence of cholangiocarcinoma in such veterans and in U.S. residents. The bill also requires the VA to track and report on the prevalence of cholangiocarcinoma using the Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry. Additionally, the VA must periodically submit follow-up reports to Congress regarding the epidemiological study and information collected from the cancer registry regarding the prevalence of bile duct cancer.
Bill· SS. 183 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2025
Fiscal Year 2025 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out specified major medical facility projects during FY2025. The bill also indicates the maximum amount that may be spent on each project.
Law· HRH.R. 695 (119th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025
Medal of Honor Act This bill increases the monthly special pension for living Medal of Honor recipients from $1,406.73 to $8,333.33 and establishes a rate of $1,406.73 for the monthly special pension for surviving spouses of Medal of Honor recipients. Both amounts must be adjusted annually for inflation.
Bill· HRH.R. 658 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025
This bill establishes eligibility requirements for the appointment of an individual in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) as a marriage and family therapist who is qualified to provide clinical supervision. In order to be appointed as a marriage and family therapist in the VHA who is qualified to provide clinical supervision, a person must hold an appropriate master’s degree, be licensed or certified, and (1) be authorized to provide clinical supervision in the state they are licensed in, or (2) be designated as an approved supervisor by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Bill· HRH.R. 659 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025
Veterans Law Judge Experience Act of 2025 This bill requires the Chairman of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals to prioritize individuals with three or more years of legal professional experience in relevant legal areas when recommending individuals to the Department of Veterans Affairs to serve as members of the Board.
Bill· SS. 219 (119th)open
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025
Veterans Health Care Freedom Act This bill requires the Center for Innovation for Care and Payment within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a three-year pilot program to provide veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system with the ability to choose health care providers through the covered care system. Under the bill, the covered care system includes VA medical facilities, health care providers participating in the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP), and eligible entities or providers that have entered into a Veterans Care Agreement. A veteran participating in the program may elect to receive care at any provider in the covered care system. The pilot program removes certain requirements (e.g., location of the veteran) to access care at VA and non-VA facilities. After four years, the bill permanently phases out the requirements for accessing care under the VCCP and Veterans Care Agreements and requires the VA to provide such care under the same conditions of the pilot program. Additionally, after four years, veterans may receive care at a VA medical facility regardless of whether the facility is in the same Veterans Integrated Service Network as the veteran.
Bill· SS. 214 (119th)open
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025
Monetary Enhancement for Distinguished Active Legends Act of 2025 or the MEDAL Act of 2025 This bill increases the monthly special pension for living Medal of Honor recipients from $1,406.73 to $8,333.33 and establishes a rate of $1,406.73 for the monthly special pension for surviving spouses of Medal of Honor recipients. Both amounts must be adjusted annually for inflation.
Law· SS. 201 (119th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025
ACES Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study and report on the prevalence and mortality of cancers among veterans who served on active duty as aircrew members and regularly flew in fixed-wing aircraft.
Bill· SS. 264 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
Improving Veterans’ Experience Act of 2025 This bill establishes the Veterans Experience Office within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out the key customer experience initiatives of the VA relating to veterans’ and beneficiaries’ satisfaction with and usage of VA benefits and services. Additionally, the office must require the heads of other organizations and offices within the VA to report regularly on customer experience metrics, action plans, and other customer experience improvement efforts; collect veteran-derived data to determine satisfaction and for use in policymaking; provide strategic guidance and strategies to VA entities for engaging with veterans and beneficiaries; assess and advise the VA on the accuracy and helpfulness of websites and customer-facing information of the VA; and assess and advise the VA on the status and opportunities for improvement of the customer service efforts of the VA. The requirements of this bill terminate on September 30, 2028. The Government Accountability Office must analyze and report on the methodology, effectiveness, and implementation of the VA’s approach to improving veteran and beneficiary customer experience and satisfaction.
Bill· SS. 274 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
Next of Kin Collections Protection Act of 2025 This bill modifies the effective date of a reduction or discontinuance of a Department of Veterans Affairs pension under an existing rating or decision in cases where the payee has died. Specifically, the bill provides that the effective date of a reduction or discontinuance of a pension that is under an existing rating or decision must be the last day of the month in which the death of the payee occurs.
Bill· SS. 275 (119th)reported
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025
Veterans' Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 This bill addresses the administration of the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) and other Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care matters. Among other provisions regarding the VCCP, the bill establishes in statute access standards that determine when a veteran is eligible to receive non-VA care through the VCCP, requires the VA to notify veterans regarding their eligibility for care within two business days after the VA is aware the veteran is seeking care, and extends the deadline for the submittal of claims under the VCCP by health care entities and providers. The VA must address its mental health treatment programs by establishing a standardized screening process to determine whether a veteran satisfies criteria for priority or routine admission to a mental health residential rehabilitation treatment program or a program for residential care for mental health and substance abuse disorders, tracking the performance of medical facilities and Veterans Integrated Service Networks in meeting the requirements for mental health treatment screenings and timely admission to treatment programs under such screenings, and establishing an appeal process for when a veteran is denied admission to a covered treatment program or is accepted into a program but not offered bed placement in a timely manner. Additionally, the VA must establish an online self-service module for veterans to request and manage appointments, track referrals, and appeal and track decisions related to requests for care.
Bill· SS. 342 (119th)reported
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2025
Purple Heart Veterans Education Act of 2025 This bill authorizes certain Purple Heart recipients to elect to transfer to one or more eligible dependents (e.g., a spouse or child) unused portions of such recipients’ entitlement to Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance. This authority specifically applies to veterans who are awarded the Purple Heart for service in the Armed Forces occurring on or after September 11, 2001, and who have been discharged or released from active service. Under the bill, the total number of months of entitlement transferred by a Purple Heart recipient may not exceed 36 months. Additionally, the Purple Heart recipient may modify or revoke any unused portion of the transferred entitlement by submitting written notice. A transferred entitlement may not be treated as marital property or marital assets in divorce or other civil proceedings. The death of the Purple Heart recipient must not affect the use of the entitlement by the individual who receives the transferred entitlement. In the event of an overpayment of educational assistance, the Purple Heart recipient and the transferee of the entitlement must be held jointly and severally liable for the amount. The bill requires the VA and DOD to coordinate to facilitate the transfer of entitlements under the bill.
Bill· HRH.R. 877 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2025
Deliver for Veterans Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to include delivery costs when paying the full purchase price of an automobile or other conveyance for certain disabled veterans or members of the Armed Forces. Currently, the VA must pay the lesser of (1) $26,417.20 (adjusted annually for inflation), or (2) the full purchase price associated with providing an automobile or other conveyance to such individuals (not including delivery costs).
Law· HRH.R. 970 (119th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025
Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to periodically review and report on the maximum coverage available under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance programs. Specifically, the VA must review such coverage amount every five years, taking into account the average percentage by which the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased in the five fiscal years preceding the review.
Bill· SS. 396 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025
Stop Government Rewards Enriching Executives in the District Act of 2025 or the Stop GREED Act of 2025 This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from providing certain senior level employees with a critical skill incentive, which is generally a payment bonus for employees possessing a high-demand skill or skill that is at a shortage. Specifically, the VA may not provide such an incentive to an employee in a Senior Executive Service position or other comparable position at the central office of the VA (e.g., the Veterans Health Administration), regardless of the actual location where the employee performs the functions of the position. The bill also provides that an incentive may be provided to senior-level employees on an individual basis and upon approval by specified officers (e.g., the Under Secretary for Health). Additionally, senior-level employees whose positions are primarily at the central office of the VA but perform some portion of the job function at other VA facilities are exempt from the prohibition. The VA must report to Congress annually regarding senior-level employees who were provided a critical skill incentive.
Bill· SS. 385 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025
Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to periodically review and report on the maximum coverage available under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance programs. Specifically, the VA must review such coverage amount every five years, taking into account the average percentage by which the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased in the five fiscal years preceding the review.
Bill· HRH.R. 981 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2025
Veterans Education Transparency and Training Act or the VETT Act This bill modifies the approval process for certain courses of education for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational assistance benefits. Under current law, educational institutions must provide a personalized form to an individual with certain information (e.g., cost, financial aid, and graduation and job placement rates) prior to enrollment in a course, otherwise such institutions may be subject to certain disciplinary action from the VA or state approving agency. The bill provides that if an educational institution cannot provide the required personalized form to an individual prior to enrollment, the institution must provide notice that specifies which information in the form may be inaccurate or incomplete and the best estimate available for such information. The bill requires the VA to establish and regularly update a website to serve as a central location for information about training for school certifying officials regarding VA educational benefits.
Law· HRH.R. 983 (119th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2025
Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2025 This bill requires that the Department of Veterans Affairs disapprove courses of education provided by educational institutions that charge higher than in-state tuition for individuals utilizing the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve education benefits while living in the state where the education is located, regardless of the individual’s state of residence.
Bill· HRH.R. 980 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2025
Modernizing the Veterans On-Campus Experience Act of 2025 This bill removes the requirement that educational and vocational counseling services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on campus at institutions of higher learning must be provided by VA counselors.
Bill· HRH.R. 1039 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2025
Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to assess notices that the VA sends to claimants applying for or submitting claims for VA benefits. The VA must report on the findings of the assessment and implement recommendations in the assessment. The bill also extends certain loan fee rates through June 23, 2034, under the VA's home loan program.
Bill· HRH.R. 1107 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2025
Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025 This bill permanently authorizes certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care professionals to use telemedicine to deliver, distribute, or dispense controlled substances that are prescription drugs to patients who are eligible for VA health care, regardless of whether the health care professional has conducted an in-person medical examination. The health care professional must be (1) authorized to prescribe the basic class of such controlled substance under an active, current, full, and unrestricted license or certification; (2) acting in the usual course of professional practice; and (3) delivering, distributing, or dispensing the substance for a legitimate medical purpose.
Bill· HRH.R. 1041 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2025
Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from transmitting certain information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) utilized by licensed importers or dealers of firearms. Specifically, the bill prohibits the VA from transmitting personally identifying information of a veteran or a beneficiary to the NICS solely on the basis that such veteran or beneficiary has an appointed fiduciary to manage their benefits, unless there is an order or finding of a judicial authority that such veteran or beneficiary is a danger to themselves or others.
Bill· SS. 478 (119th)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2025
Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025 This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from transmitting certain information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) utilized by licensed importers or dealers of firearms. Specifically, the bill prohibits the VA from transmitting personally identifying information of a veteran or a beneficiary to the NICS solely on the basis that such veteran or beneficiary has an appointed fiduciary to manage their benefits, unless there is an order or finding of a judicial authority that such veteran or beneficiary is a danger to themselves or others.
Law· SS. 423 (119th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2025
Protecting Regular Order for Veterans Act of 2025 or the PRO Veterans Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide quarterly budget briefings to Congress and prohibits the VA from providing specified pay incentives to senior level employees. First, the bill requires VA to provide quarterly budget briefings to Congress, which must include information on any budget shortfalls the VA may be experiencing. The VA must present its plans to address or mitigate shortfalls during such briefings. Next, the bill prohibits the VA from providing certain senior level employees with a critical skill incentive, which is generally a payment bonus for employees possessing a high-demand skill or skill that is at a shortage. Specifically, the VA may not provide such an incentive to an employee in a Senior Executive Service position or other comparable position at the central office of the VA (e.g., the Veterans Health Administration), regardless of the actual location where the employee performs the functions of the position. The bill also provides that an incentive may be provided to senior-level employees on an individual basis and upon approval by specified officers (e.g., the Under Secretary for Health). Additionally, senior-level employees whose positions are primarily at the central office of the VA but perform some portion of the job function at other VA facilities are exempt from the prohibition. The VA must report to Congress annually regarding senior-level employees who were provided a critical skill incentive.
Bill· HRH.R. 1147 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2025
Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access to address the accessibility of the VA for individuals with disabilities. Prior to establishing the advisory committee, the VA must take action to abolish or consolidate advisory committees that are currently inactive. The bill also extends certain loan fee rates through June 23, 2034, under the VA's home loan program.
Bill· SS. 410 (119th)reported
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2025
Love Lives On Act of 2025 This bill extends entitlement for various benefit programs and services for surviving spouses of deceased members of the Armed Forces or veterans. The bill provides that the remarriage of a surviving spouse must not bar the furnishing of dependency and indemnity compensation or special pension benefits to such spouse. Additionally, the Department of Defense may not terminate the payment of an annuity for a surviving spouse under the Survivor Benefit Plan solely because the surviving spouse remarries. The bill also expands the definition of a dependent under TRICARE to include a remarried widow or widower whose subsequent marriage has ended due to death, divorce, or annulment.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 74 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2025
Bill· SS. 506 (119th)reported
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2025
Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a three-year pilot program to coordinate, navigate, and manage care and benefits for veterans who are enrolled in both the Medicare program and the VA health care system.
Bill· HRH.R. 1228 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2025
Prioritizing Veterans' Survivors Act This bill provides that the Office of Survivors Assistance (OSA) must operate within the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Currently, OSA operates within the Pension and Fiduciary Service of the Veterans Benefits Administration.)
Bill· SS. 540 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2025
Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act This bill requires the consideration of continuity of care when determining whether care through the Veterans Community Care Program is in the best medical interest of a veteran.
Bill· HRH.R. 1286 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2025
Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to seek to enter an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to assess the forms that the VA sends to claimants. The center must submit a written assessment to the VA that includes recommendations on how the VA may make the forms clearer and more organized. The VA must implement certain recommendations in the assessment within two years after the assessment is received.
Bill· SS. 599 (119th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2025
Driver Reimbursement Increase for Veteran Equity Act of 2025 or the DRIVE Act of 2025 This bill increases the mileage reimbursement rate available to beneficiaries for travel to or from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities in connection with vocational rehabilitation, required counseling, or for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care. Specifically, the bill makes the reimbursement rate for such travel equal to or greater than the mileage reimbursement rate for government employees using private vehicles when no government vehicle is available. The bill also requires the VA to ensure that an allowance based on mileage is paid not later than 90 days after the request is properly submitted to the VA.
Bill· SS. 585 (119th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2025
Bill· HRH.R. 1364 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2025
Automotive Support Services to Improve Safe Transportation Act of 2025 or the ASSIST Act of 2025 This bill expands the definition of medical services for purposes of veterans’ benefits to include additional medically necessary automobile adaptations. Under the bill, the Department of Veterans Affairs may provide funding for ramp and kneeling systems, lowered floors, mobility device lifts, non-articulating trailers, and ingress or egress accessibility modifications.
Bill· SS. 625 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 2025
Veterans Border Patrol Training Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collaborate with the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a five-year interdepartmental pilot program, under which DHS must use the DOD SkillBridge Program to train and hire transitioning servicemembers as border patrol agents for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Bill· SS. 609 (119th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 2025
Building Resources and Access for Veterans' Mental Health Engagement Act of 2025 or the BRAVE Act of 2025 This bill addresses mental health services and care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including matters related to personnel, Vet Center administration, care for women veterans, and access to care. The bill authorizes the VA to waive the licensure or certification requirement for individual licensed professional mental health counselor appointees for a reasonable period of time. The bill also extends the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program and increases the maximum annual grant amount. The VA must provide Vet Centers with guidance for assessing outreach activities and implement processes to periodically assess the extent to which (1) veterans and eligible members of the Armed Forces experience barriers to obtaining services at Vet Centers, and (2) Vet Center staff may encounter barriers to providing services. Among other requirements, the VA must also survey and host listening sessions with women veterans to gauge the effectiveness of the VA’s suicide prevention, lethal-means safety, and mental health resources and messaging campaigns; initiate efforts to modify the Recovery Engagement and Coordination for Health-Veterans Enhanced Treatment (REACH VET) program to incorporate risk factors weighted for women; annually offer a mental health consultation to veterans who are receiving compensation for a service-connected disability relating to a mental health diagnosis; and implement a pilot program to provide access to mental health residential treatment programs for veterans with a spinal cord injury or disorder.