Veterans

in committee · United States · House Jun 24, 2025

HR 2055: Caring for Survivors Act of 2025

The Caring for Survivors Act of 2025 increases monthly dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses of veterans. It changes the calculation method from a fixed $1,154 to 55% of a specific veteran compensation rate, effective six months after enactment. The bill also reduces the required continuous disability rating period for survivors from 10 years to 5 years, and provides a proportional payment for cases where the rating period is shorter than 10 years. Surviving spouses of veterans who died before January 1, 1993, receive the greater of their current benefit or the new calculation. This directly affects surviving spouses eligible for benefits under Title 38, U.S. Code, particularly those with veterans who died prior to 1993.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransIncreases compensation for surviving spouses by changing calculation method and reducing required disability period from 10 to 5 years, directly expanding benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Military Families Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · House Dec 19, 2025

HR 499: To rename the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Dallas, Texas, as the "Eddie Bernice Johnson VA Medical Center".

This bill renames the Dallas, Texas Department of Veterans Affairs medical center at 4500 South Lancaster Road as the "Eddie Bernice Johnson VA Medical Center." It directly affects the facility and all official references to it in federal documents, laws, and records. The key provision (Section 2(a)) officially changes the facility's name upon enactment, and Section 2(b) requires all future references to use the new name. The bill is procedural, honoring Congresswoman Johnson's service to veterans.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransHonors veteran service via facility renaming, aligning with recognition indicator in support criteria95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · House May 14, 2026

HR 7260: National Cemetery Administration Annual Report Act of 2026

HR 7260 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit an annual report to Congress starting one year after the bill's enactment, detailing the National Cemetery Administration's operations. The report must include specific data like interment numbers (by cemetery, veteran category, and casketed/cremated remains), customer satisfaction assessments, cemetery maps, construction projects, grant usage, and burial options. All reports must be made publicly available online in digital format. This bill directly affects the VA's reporting obligations and provides Congress with transparent, detailed oversight of veterans' cemetery services.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates annual VA reports on cemetery operations, burial data, and customer satisfaction - ensuring transparency and accountability for a core veterans' benefit (burial services)85% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · House Jan 5, 2026

HR 6454: VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act of 2025

HR 6454 establishes a 5-year pilot program at five Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers to improve suicide care for veterans. The program requires VA staff at these sites to complete a 10-week training curriculum based on the Zero Suicide Institute's model, focusing on suicide screening, risk assessment, safety planning, and care transitions. It mandates annual reports to Congress tracking staff training completion, policy alignment with the Institute's standards, and comparisons of suicide-related outcomes (like screenings and hospitalizations) between pilot sites and other VA facilities. The pilot includes one site primarily serving rural veterans and requires site selection based on factors like regional suicide rates and staff capacity. The program will conclude after five years unless the VA extends it for up to two more years.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes VA mental health training program to improve suicide care for veterans, directly supporting mental health services through staff training and standardized care protocols.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill establishes a pilot program to improve veteran suicide care through staff training and reporting, directly enhancing healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Nov 17, 2025

HR 5992: Stuck On Hold Act

HR 5992, the "Stuck On Hold Act," requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve wait times for veterans calling its standard customer service phone lines. Within one year of enactment, the VA must implement an automated system that tells callers their expected wait time and offers a callback if the wait exceeds 10 minutes. The bill also directs the VA Secretary to issue guidance aimed at reducing the average call wait time to 10 minutes or less. This directly affects veterans calling VA service lines (excluding the 38 U.S.C. §1720F(h) hotline and emergency department lines).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves VA healthcare access by reducing wait times for veterans calling customer service, enhancing patient access to health services.75% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRequires VA to reduce call wait times, improving veterans' access to services and enhancing VA customer support responsiveness.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate May 21, 2025

S 585: Servicemember to Veteran Health Care Connection Act of 2025

S 585, the Servicemember to Veteran Health Care Connection Act of 2025, creates an automated pre-registration system to streamline health care enrollment for service members transitioning to veterans. It requires the VA to automatically register service members 180 days before separation into a pre-transition system, followed by outreach (via email, mail, or phone) to explain enrollment steps and available services, including initial appointment scheduling. The bill mandates the VA to simplify enrollment processes, improve coordination with the Department of Defense, and report annually on registration and enrollment outcomes. This directly affects all service members anticipating separation from the Armed Forces who may seek VA health care, aiming to reduce transition barriers and improve access to care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAutomates VA healthcare enrollment for transitioning veterans, improving access to services without restrictions or defunding.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates automated pre-registration system and requires VA to use email, mail, or phone for outreach, advancing digital health care enrollment technology for service members transitioning to veterans.75% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAutomates VA enrollment for transitioning veterans, simplifies healthcare access, and mandates proactive outreach - directly advancing veteran health care services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Employment Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Feb 2, 2026

HR 7091: Expanding Veterans’ Access to Emerging Treatments Act

This bill establishes a Veterans Affairs research program to test innovative treatments for veterans with specific conditions like PTSD, chronic pain, and substance use disorders. It authorizes the VA to conduct clinical trials and create compassionate access protocols for emerging therapies, including ketamine, psilocybin, and other treatments listed in the bill. Veterans diagnosed with covered conditions would be eligible to participate in these trials or access approved treatments through VA-administered pathways. The program requires a report to Congress within one year detailing trial outcomes and treatment options.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates VA research program for clinical trials and compassionate access to emerging treatments (ketamine, psilocybin) for veterans with PTSD, chronic pain, and substance use disorders, expanding healthcare access.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes VA research program for emerging treatments (ketamine, psilocybin) for PTSD/chro pain/substance use, expanding access to healthcare options95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Feb 3, 2026

HR 1685: Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2025

This bill extends dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses of veterans who die from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), treating ALS-related deaths as qualifying for benefits regardless of how long the veteran had the disease before death. It requires surviving spouses to have been married to the veteran for at least eight continuous years prior to death to qualify for compensation. The changes apply to veterans dying from ALS on or after October 1, 2025. Additionally, the bill requires the Veterans Affairs Secretary to submit a report within 180 days of enactment identifying other service-connected disabilities with high mortality rates that might warrant similar treatment.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExtends dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses of veterans dying from ALS, expanding benefits for a specific veteran group without restricting access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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signed · United States · Senate Jun 9, 2026

S 2393: Fiscal Year 2025 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to construct a major medical facility project in St. Louis, Missouri, during fiscal year 2026. It specifically funds a new bed tower, expanded clinical buildings, a consolidated administrative building, warehouse, utility plant, and parking garages, with a maximum funding limit of $1,762,668,000. The bill directly affects veterans receiving care at the St. Louis VA medical facility by enabling physical infrastructure upgrades. It does not change existing VA benefits or policies but provides the necessary funding authorization for these construction projects. The authorization is for fiscal year 2026, not fiscal year 2025 as referenced in the bill's title.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes $1.76B for VA facility construction, directly funding government healthcare infrastructure under fiscal appropriations.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds $1.76B for VA medical facility infrastructure, directly advancing veterans' healthcare access and services through physical upgrades.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill authorizes $1.76B for new VA medical facility construction in St. Louis, directly funding infrastructure to improve veterans' healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Healthcare

passed · United States · House Sep 16, 2025

HR 3767: Health Professionals Scholarship Program Improvement Act of 2025

HR 3767, the Health Professionals Scholarship Program Improvement Act of 2025, requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to guarantee full-time clinical employment contracts for scholarship participants within 90 days of completing their training. These contracts must be at VA facilities with the highest need, offering competitive salaries and benefits consistent with VA standards. The bill mandates biannual reports to Congress on implementation until September 30, 2027, to track compliance with the new employment requirement. This directly affects health professionals who complete VA scholarship programs by ensuring post-graduation job placement. The key mechanism is the mandatory 90-day employment guarantee for participants, replacing previous processes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareGuarantees VA employment for health professionals at high-need facilities with competitive pay, improving workforce access to care and strengthening healthcare delivery systems.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGuarantees VA employment contracts with competitive salaries/benefits for health professionals, advancing employment standards and worker protections.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransGuarantees VA clinical employment for scholarship participants at high-need facilities, ensuring healthcare access and competitive benefits for veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development Veteran Education Veteran Employment Veteran Healthcare

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