Veterans (Veteran Healthcare)

in committee · United States · House Mar 18, 2026

HR 1732: GUARD VA Benefits Act

Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits Act or the GUARD VA Benefits Act This bill imposes fines on individuals for soliciting, contracting for, charging, or receiving any unauthorized fee or compensation with respect to the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. The attempted commission of such offenses is also punishable by fine.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransPrevents fraud in VA benefit claims by penalizing unauthorized fees, directly protecting veterans' access to benefits as per support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 26, 2025

S 1134: Strengthening VA Patient Advocacy for Rural Veterans Act of 2025

This bill requires VA medical centers to designate at least one patient advocate specifically for veterans receiving care through community clinics or the community care network in rural or highly rural areas. It mandates that these advocates report to the medical center director and track issues like care coordination delays, resolution times, and complaints. Annual reports will be submitted to Congress and VA leadership, detailing de-identified data on common problems and how they’re resolved. The changes directly affect rural veterans using VA community-based care and aim to improve their access to advocacy support outside VA medical centers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates VA patient advocates for rural veterans to address care delays and improve coordination, directly enhancing patient access and service quality within VA healthcare.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRequires VA medical centers to designate patient advocates for rural veterans, track care delays/complaints, and submit annual reports to improve healthcare access and coordination for veterans in underserved areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Employment Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

Track

in committee · United States · House Sep 26, 2025

HR 5586: TRICARE Transition Transparency Act of 2025

HR 5586, the TRICARE Transition Transparency Act of 2025, requires the Department of Defense to provide advance written notices to military health care beneficiaries about upcoming changes to their TRICARE coverage. Beneficiaries affected by required plan changes (such as due to age) will receive three electronic notices: one year, 180 days, and 30 days before the transition. The bill also mandates an annual outreach campaign via website, social media, and family groups, plus yearly reports to Congress on implementation progress. This law aims to improve beneficiary awareness of coverage transitions without altering TRICARE plan options or costs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves patient access to healthcare information by requiring advance notices of coverage changes, protecting beneficiary rights and ensuring transparency in TRICARE transitions.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRequires advance notices and outreach for TRICARE coverage changes, protecting veterans' healthcare access by preventing sudden disruptions in benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Military Families National Guard & Reserve Veteran Healthcare

Track

in committee · United States · House Jun 24, 2025

HR 3835: Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025

The Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to track and report on key aspects of the appeals process, including average claim processing times after remand and reasons for case dismissals. It mandates the creation of guidelines for advancing cases on the Board's docket and authorizes the Board to aggregate appeals with common legal or factual issues to improve efficiency. The bill also expands the Court of Appeals' jurisdiction to handle class action claims and requires a study on common legal questions to help the Board make more consistent decisions. These changes aim to reduce delays and improve the accuracy of benefits decisions for veterans seeking appeals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves VA healthcare appeals efficiency, enhancing patient access to timely medical decisions and reducing administrative barriers for veterans seeking care.75% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill mandates VA to improve appeals efficiency, reduce processing times, and prevent case dismissals, directly enhancing veterans' access to benefits and services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

Track

in committee · United States · House Feb 6, 2025

HR 149: Lead by Example Act of 2025

HR 149, the Lead by Example Act of 2025, requires Members of Congress and their staff to use Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare instead of other federal health plans for their service-related coverage. Beginning January 3, 2027, the VA would be the sole provider of health care for these individuals, including at VA facilities and non-VA facilities under existing VA authority, treating them as veterans. The bill mandates that the VA Secretary and Office of Personnel Management submit an implementation plan to Congress by September 15, 2025, detailing how to execute this change. This policy directly affects all current and future Senators, Representatives, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners, along with their defined staff members.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates VA healthcare for Congress members with service-related coverage, signaling endorsement of VA system and promoting veteran healthcare access as sole provider.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

Track

in committee · United States · House Jan 15, 2026

HR 7120: Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act

This bill amends the Social Security Act to provide work incentives for Purple Heart recipients receiving disability benefits. It removes the standard earnings penalty that would reduce benefits when veterans earn above the "substantial gainful activity" (SGA) threshold, instead allowing benefits to continue with a reduced rate ($1 reduction for every $4 earned above the threshold, but not below $0). It also specifically applies a higher SGA earnings limit to Purple Heart recipients under Social Security disability rules. The changes affect veterans who received a Purple Heart for a service-connected injury and are currently receiving Social Security disability benefits. The bill takes effect six months after enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves earnings penalty for Purple Heart recipients, allowing continued benefits with partial reduction ($1/$4) and higher SGA limit, expanding work incentives under disability benefits.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRemoves earnings penalties for Purple Heart recipients, maintains benefits with reduced rate, and increases SGA limit - directly advancing veteran employment benefits and financial stability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Employment Veteran Healthcare

Track

in committee · United States · House Jun 6, 2025

HR 3571: Veterans Administration Backlog Accountability Act of 2025

This bill requires the Veterans Affairs Inspector General to submit a report to Congress within 180 days of enactment, focusing on the backlog of disability compensation claims. The report must detail the current backlog status, assess VA staffing efforts (including hiring under the PACT Act), analyze how staffing reductions since January 20, 2025, affect wait times, and evaluate preparations for a predicted 50% claim surge. It also examines how new technologies have impacted backlog reduction and includes IG recommendations for improvement. The bill does not change VA benefits or funding - it solely mandates this oversight report to inform Congress about backlog challenges.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRequires VA IG report to address disability claims backlog, improving processing efficiency and accountability for veterans' benefits95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

Track

in committee · United States · House Mar 4, 2025

HR 602: SANE Act of 2025

This bill requires every Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital and urgent care facility to employ at least one Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) or a qualified healthcare provider to perform sexual assault forensic examinations. It mandates that after such an examination, veterans must be verbally referred to mental health services, either at the VA hospital or via a Veterans Care Agreement if VA wait times exceed 30 days. The bill explicitly prohibits any reduction in other patient care responsibilities for VA staff while implementing these requirements. The law directly affects veterans seeking sexual assault care at VA facilities by ensuring access to specialized examiners and timely mental health referrals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health referrals after sexual assault exams and ensures access via Veterans Care Agreement if VA wait times exceed 30 days, directly strengthening mental health services within healthcare.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates VA hospitals to provide SANE services and mental health referrals for veterans, directly improving healthcare access and support without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals Mental Health Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

Track

in committee · United States · House May 20, 2026

HR 6580: VA National Formulary Act of 2025

The VA National Formulary Act of 2025 creates a single, uniform list of drugs available at all VA medical facilities, replacing any local drug lists. It establishes a Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee to make evidence-based decisions on drug inclusion (reviewing new FDA-approved drugs within 120 days) and sets up a 96-hour timeline for processing veterans' requests for nonformulary drugs. The VA must report annual formulary changes to Congress and implement a tiered copayment system that lowers costs for formulary drugs. The bill also includes provisions for negotiating drug discounts and value-based agreements to achieve cost savings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates uniform VA drug formulary with evidence-based decisions and faster processing for nonformulary drugs, improving veterans' medication access and system consistency.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates uniform drug access, 120-day FDA review, 96-hour nonformulary processing - directly improves VA healthcare access and consistency for veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

Track

passed · United States · House Jan 26, 2026

HR 1663: VSAFE Act of 2025

The VSAFE Act of 2025 establishes a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer within the Department of Veterans Affairs to prevent and address fraud targeting veterans. This officer will develop communication plans, training, and reporting systems for veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors to identify and avoid scams, while coordinating with agencies like the IRS, DOJ, and Social Security Administration. The bill also modifies a home loan fee deadline in the VA loan program, changing a date from June 9, 2034, to June 23, 2034. It does not create new full-time positions or alter existing Inspector General authority.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes VA officer to prevent fraud targeting veterans, protecting benefits and services through communication plans and interagency coordination95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

Track