Veterans

Flight 293 Remembrance Act This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to identify and publish information related to non-combat military plane crashes and provide support to families of members of the Armed Forces who die in such crashes. Specifically, DOD must identify and document all non-combat military plane crashes categorized as Operational Loss/Non-War Loss. Further, DOD must develop and maintain a public database of the names, ranks, and service details of all members of the Armed Forces who died in such crashes. DOD must also provide assistance to the families of members of the Armed Forces who have died in non-combat crashes by (1) ensuring the families are aware of and have access to DOD benefits, resources, and support services; (2) offering personalized guidance on navigating and applying for such benefits, resources, and support services; and (3) connecting those families with community and peer support networks. Additionally, DOD must establish a designated point of contact for such families to guide them through the benefits process, provide certain updates, and liaise with relevant agencies or organizations to ensure coordinated assistance. The bill prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, sex, race, color, or national origin in the provision of assistance and services under this bill.

This bill requests the President to award Kareem N. Dockery the Medal of Honor for his 2012 combat actions in Afghanistan, where he repeatedly risked his life to protect fellow soldiers during an ambush. It specifically authorizes the upgrade from his previously awarded Silver Star, citing his actions that saved a wounded soldier and killed multiple enemy fighters. The bill does not create new policy but applies existing military award procedures to honor one soldier's service. It directly affects only Kareem N. Dockery, who received a Silver Star for these actions in 2012.

ACES Act of 2025 This act 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.

HR 968, the Time of Service Act, would change the deadline for using benefits under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program from January 1, 2013, to January 1, 2001. This would require veterans to use their educational benefits by 2001, before the program's effective date in 2009. As a result, the bill would make these benefits unavailable for all veterans eligible under the program. It directly affects veterans who served after September 11, 2001, and are currently using or eligible for the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program.

HR 5012 authorizes the President to award the Purple Heart military decoration to Louis Boria, Jr., for combat injuries he sustained during World War II and the Korean War while serving in the Marine Corps. It specifically waives the standard eligibility criteria outlined in Executive Order 11016 for this single case. The bill directly affects Louis Boria, Jr., by enabling him to receive this honor for his wartime service, with no broader policy changes or additional beneficiaries.

This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act to exclude specific cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) from SNAP income calculations. It removes from consideration increases in Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or VA benefits that take effect after January 1st of a fiscal year. As a result, households receiving SNAP benefits would no longer see their allotments reduced due to these government-provided income increases. The change applies to income assessed for the entire fiscal year and takes effect October 1, 2027.

This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to James Capers, Jr., for his acts of valor during the Vietnam War. It directly affects Capers, who previously received a Silver Star for these actions but was not awarded the Medal of Honor due to time limits. The key provision bypasses standard time restrictions in military award laws (10 U.S.C. §§ 8298(a), 8300) to allow the Medal of Honor award. The bill does not change existing policy but specifically enables this retroactive recognition for Capers' service.

HR 2973 amends the Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act to ensure Coast Guard veterans with combat-related injuries receive tax refunds for improperly withheld severance payments, regardless of whether the Coast Guard operates under the Department of the Navy, Homeland Security, or Transportation. It updates the law to include the Secretary of Homeland Security and Secretary of Transportation as responsible officials for processing these refunds during periods when the Coast Guard is not part of the Navy. The bill requires these secretaries to identify and refund improperly withheld amounts within one year of enactment and to prevent future withholding errors immediately. This directly affects Coast Guard veterans injured in combat during service periods managed by Homeland Security or Transportation, not just those under the Navy.

HR 4321, the SMART for TBI Act, requires the Department of Defense to create a working group focused on using digital health technologies to improve treatment for traumatic brain injuries (TBI) among military personnel. The working group, including military, DoD staff, and external experts, must develop a strategy identifying gaps in current TBI care, analyzing existing digital tools, and recommending specific technology advances and funding priorities. This strategy must be completed by 2026 and presented to Congress. The bill directly affects how the military addresses TBI treatment through digital health approaches, aiming to modernize care using technology.

HR 3642, the Final Honors Act of 2025, allows the remains of service members who died from injuries incurred while on duty to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol rotunda. It directly affects the primary surviving next of kin of these fallen service members, requiring their request for the honor. The bill mandates the Secretary concerned to notify next of kin per existing law and directs the Architect of the Capitol (under congressional leadership) to schedule the ceremony and determine eligibility. This applies to service members who die on or after the bill's enactment date.