The Protecting Home-Based Care for Rural Veterans Act of 2026 aims to safeguard funding for home health services provided to veterans living in rural areas. It requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to restore any reimbursement rates for homemaker and home health aide services that were lowered after December 31, 2025, and prevents future rate cuts without notifying Congress at least 90 days in advance. Additionally, the bill mandates annual reports to Congress detailing the availability of service providers in different regions and the methods used to calculate payment rates. A one-time report must also be submitted within 90 days of the law's enactment to explain how these rates were determined and whether input was gathered from service providers.
The Military Spouse Employment and Child Care Readiness Act requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report within 120 days analyzing challenges in military child care and development centers. This report will examine workforce statistics, such as the percentage of military spouses employed in these centers, and assess the feasibility of allowing childcare licenses to transfer when families move. Additionally, the document will evaluate vacancy rates, potential capacity increases, and options for on-post home-based childcare programs, while offering recommendations for incentives to attract and retain military spouses in the workforce.
The Veteran Suicide Spousal Career Services Act expands eligibility for the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program to include spouses of veterans, as well as spouses of service members who died in the line of duty or by suicide related to a service-connected disability. By amending existing federal law, the bill ensures these eligible persons can access the career counseling and support services previously reserved for veterans. This change directly affects the families of those who served, allowing them to utilize the program's resources without needing to meet the veteran status requirement themselves. The legislation focuses on broadening the definition of who qualifies for assistance rather than creating new types of services or funding.
The Veteran Acquired Brain Injury Caregiving Act establishes a five-year pilot program allowing veterans with acquired brain injuries to use existing Veteran-Directed Care funds to hire care from specific nonprofit organizations. The Department of Veterans Affairs must select at least five medical centers to administer this program and will report annually on the number of participating veterans and nonprofits, along with an evaluation of clinical outcomes and satisfaction. This legislation directly affects veterans who have been clinically assessed for acquired brain injuries and are already eligible for the Veteran-Directed Care program, expanding their options for care providers.
The POPCaP Act of 2026 establishes a precision oncology program within the Department of Veterans Affairs specifically for veterans diagnosed with prostate cancer. To deliver this care, the bill designates 21 existing VA medical centers across the country as provisional centers of excellence, requiring each to perform genetic sequencing, participate in clinical trials, and maintain specific staffing levels including oncologists and researchers. These centers will operate under a centralized leadership team that coordinates research activities, manages a national data registry, and ensures veterans have access to the latest biomarker-specific treatments. The legislation authorizes $15.5 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2029 to fund the program and mandates annual reports to Congress detailing patient outcomes and research progress.
The Warriors to Workforce Act of 2026 increases the educational assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to eligible veterans participating in apprenticeships or on-the-job training programs. Specifically, the bill raises the payment rate for the first year of such training from 80 percent to 100 percent of the applicable benefit amount. This change directly affects veterans who are enrolled in these specific workforce development pathways and aims to provide full funding for their initial training period. The legislation modifies existing federal law to adjust the financial support structure for these educational opportunities.
This resolution honors the memory of Corey Comperatore, a veteran and volunteer firefighter from Sarver, Pennsylvania, who passed away on July 13, 2024. It formally acknowledges his service to his community and country while mourning his loss as a husband, father, and hero. The House of Representatives is asked to express its condolences and celebrate his life through this commemorative measure.
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to build or renovate a community-based outpatient clinic in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, using up to $3.696 million in fiscal year 2027. The legislation allows the VA to use flexible building standards suited to the island's unique geographic and logistical challenges, such as the need for ocean transport of materials and limited local contractors. It specifically aims to address the current lack of a permanent VA clinical presence in the region and reduce the burden on veterans who must travel long distances for care. Ultimately, the act provides funding and regulatory flexibility to establish a local medical facility for veterans living in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
This bill, known as the Hmong Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes the U.S. Congress to present a gold medal to the Hmong people in recognition of their distinguished service during the Vietnam War. The legislation directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for this presentation, while the Secretary of the Treasury is tasked with creating the medal and selling duplicate bronze versions to cover production costs. Following the award ceremony, the original gold medal will be given to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research, with a recommendation that it also be made available at locations significant to Hmong history. The act applies to the over 327,000 Hmong currently living in the United States, acknowledging their heavy casualties and displacement after the war.
The AIR CARE for Vets Act of 2026 directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to run a five-year pilot program using specialized software to detect respiratory disorders and lung diseases in veterans receiving care at VA facilities. To implement this, the VA will lease FDA-approved four-dimensional functional lung imaging software from eligible developers to analyze lung function data. The program is funded with up to $25 million over five years, and the VA must submit a report to Congress two years after the pilot ends to evaluate its effectiveness.