HR 980 United States House · 119th Congress

Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act of 2025

This bill eliminates a requirement that on-campus educational and vocational counseling for veterans must be provided by specific Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees. It directly affects veterans using VA education benefits at colleges or universities, as it changes who can deliver this counseling support. The key provision amends Section 3697B(a) of Title 38, U.S. Code by removing language mandating VA employee delivery of these services. This change allows institutions to use other qualified personnel for counseling, streamlining access to support. The bill focuses on administrative flexibility within the VA's education program.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Last action Feb 3, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 5 edits · Feb 2, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was renamed from the 'Modernizing the Veterans On-Campus Experience Act' to the 'Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act,' reflecting a much broader scope. Three new sections were added: one allowing non-degree flight training in vocational rehabilitation programs, one requiring dedicated outreach channels and 30-day turnaround on extension requests with annual reporting to Congress, and one extending a pension payment limit by six months.

Scope change

The bill expanded significantly from a single provision about on-campus counseling requirements to a multi-topic act covering flight training eligibility in vocational rehabilitation, outreach and processing requirements for program extensions, and a pension payment limit extension.

SCOPE

The bill title changed from 'Modernizing the Veterans On-Campus Experience Act of 2025' to 'Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act of 2025,' signaling a shift from a narrow on-campus focus to a broader veterans readiness and employment mandate.

ELIGIBILITY

New Section 3 allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to approve non-degree flight training courses as part of vocational rehabilitation programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities, even when the training is not offered by a higher education institution for credit toward a standard college degree. Applies to programs approved on or after August 1, 2026.

REQUIREMENT

New Section 4(a) requires the VA Secretary to establish a dedicated telephone number within the Education Call Center for vocational rehabilitation services and requires each regional office to publish a contact name, phone number, and email address on its website.

TIMELINE

New Section 4(b) requires the VA Secretary to approve or deny veteran requests for program extensions within 30 days of submission, and mandates annual reports to Congress for five years detailing the number of extension requests made, approved, and denied.

FISCAL

New Section 5 extends a limit on pension payments under 38 U.S.C. 5503(d)(7) from January 31, 2033 to July 31, 2033, a six-month extension.

Floor votes · House Feb 2, 2026

How they voted

402–2

Passed · 27 other

Total votes 431

Feb 2, 2026

D Democratic213

201 Yea 1 Nay 11

94% Yea

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican217

200 Yea 1 Nay 16

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Introduced

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 2 (Roll no. 49). (text: CR H1929)

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 2 (Roll no. 49). (text: CR H1929)

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Introduced

Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

lower

Aug 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-228.

lower

May 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee Hearings Held

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Committee

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors