STRIVE Act of 2024

The STRIVE Act of 2024 requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in veterans' disability benefits within 180 days of enactment, using data from the 2023 GAO report (GAO-23-106097) that found Black veterans (especially Black men) face 14% lower benefit approval rates than White veterans. It also mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit a 3-year plan within 365 days to address these disparities, based on the GAO findings. The bill focuses on improving data collection and transparency, requiring the VA to publicly report annual progress on implementing its plan. This directly affects Black, female, and veteran applicants whose benefit approvals may be impacted by systemic disparities.