Veterans (Veteran Benefits)

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 3898: Gerald’s Law Reauthorization Act of 2026

S 3898, the Gerald’s Law Reauthorization Act of 2026, extends the expiration date of burial benefits for certain veterans. It directly affects veterans who die at home while receiving hospice care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), ensuring they remain eligible for burial benefits. The bill amends existing law by changing the program’s sunset date from 2026 to 2030. This is a straightforward extension of an existing benefit, not a new policy change. The key provision simply delays the program’s expiration without altering eligibility or benefit amounts.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExtends VA burial benefits for hospice veterans, ensuring continued eligibility without expiration, protecting existing benefits95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · Senate Dec 11, 2025

S 3466: Honor Our Promise to Veterans Act of 2025

The Honor Our Promise to Veterans Act of 2025 improves veterans' access to care by requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to schedule non-urgent appointments within seven days and urgent appointments within 48 hours of a veteran's request. The bill establishes an MST Aware rating program for community care providers who complete specific training on military sexual trauma and women veterans' care, and mandates regular reporting on appointment wait times and provider quality. It also creates new educational programs like "Start and Stay at VA" to recruit and retain healthcare staff, along with requirements for transparent staffing data and improved capital asset management for VA facilities. The legislation includes detailed reporting requirements for VA infrastructure projects and aims to enhance the overall quality and efficiency of veterans' healthcare services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves veterans' healthcare access by mandating faster appointment scheduling and establishing specialized care programs for military sexual trauma.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill mandates reduced VA appointment wait times, creates MST/women veterans care training program, and requires quality reporting - directly improving veterans' healthcare access and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Telehealth Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Apr 9, 2025

HR 1960: Simplifying Veterans Assistance Act of 2025

HR 1960, the Simplifying Veterans Assistance Act of 2025, modifies how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assists organizations applying for grants to support homeless veterans. It requires the VA to make online guidance and best practices publicly available and hold at least two mandatory pre-application information sessions for entities seeking these grants. Each session must last at least one hour, include Q&A, explain application language, and detail other assistance resources. This directly affects veterans' service organizations applying for homeless assistance grants under existing VA programs.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill streamlines grants for organizations supporting homeless veterans, directly addressing homelessness - a core housing issue - without restricting housing assistance.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill streamlines VA grant application process for homeless veterans' programs, improving access to services through mandatory guidance sessions and public resources.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

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in committee · United States · House Dec 15, 2025

HR 6710: 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 approves funding up to $1.76 billion for building a new bed tower, expanding clinical facilities, constructing a consolidated administrative building and warehouse, upgrading utility systems, and adding parking garages. The bill directly affects VA medical infrastructure in St. Louis by enabling this physical expansion project. It does not change veteran benefits or eligibility but provides the funding authorization for the facility construction.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes $1.76B funding for VA medical facility construction, directly increasing government spending on public infrastructure and essential veteran services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes $1.76B for VA medical facility expansion, directly increasing healthcare infrastructure funding for veterans' health services.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAuthorizes $1.76B for VA medical facility expansion in St. Louis, directly improving veterans' healthcare infrastructure and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

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in committee · United States · House Mar 26, 2026

HR 5339: Susan E. Lukas 9/11 Servicemember Fairness Act

This bill creates a presumption that certain illnesses are connected to military service for veterans who were stationed at the Pentagon Reservation between September 11 and November 19, 2001. It directly affects those veterans by allowing them to automatically qualify for disability benefits for covered diseases without needing to prove a direct link to their service. The bill specifies that illnesses like asthma, cancer, heart disease, skin conditions, and other respiratory or cardiovascular ailments diagnosed after service will be presumed service-connected. This applies to veterans assigned to the Pentagon during the immediate post-9/11 period, streamlining access to benefits under the existing veterans' health care system.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAutomatically qualifies veterans for disability benefits covering health conditions like cancer and asthma, expanding access to healthcare services without requiring proof of service connection.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill automatically qualifies veterans for disability benefits without proof of service link, expanding access to benefits for covered illnesses like cancer and heart disease.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · House Jun 6, 2025

HR 3610: Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act of 2025

This bill, HR 3610 (Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act of 2025), directly affects Native Hawaiian veterans who receive care through Native Hawaiian health care systems. It requires the VA to reimburse these health systems for costs of care provided to eligible veterans, regardless of how the care is delivered (directly, referred, or contracted), and exempts Native Hawaiian veterans from certain cost-sharing requirements under VA medical programs. Key provisions include amending VA housing loan rules to align with Native Hawaiian definitions and adding Section 1703H for reimbursement, plus modifying Section 1730A(b)(3) to explicitly include Native Hawaiians as exempt from cost-sharing. The law aims to ensure equal access to VA benefits by removing financial barriers and standardizing eligibility for Native Hawaiian veterans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReimburses Native Hawaiian health systems for veteran care and exempts veterans from cost-sharing, directly improving access to healthcare services and reducing financial barriers.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransReimburses Native Hawaiian health systems for veteran care, exempts veterans from cost-sharing, and expands access to VA healthcare services - directly advancing veterans' healthcare benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · House Jun 11, 2025

HR 2720: Gold Star Family Education Parity Act

HR 2720, the Gold Star Family Education Parity Act, terminates the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance program (Chapter 35 of the U.S. Code) for Gold Star families on August 1, 2029. It directly affects surviving spouses and children of service members who died in combat, ensuring they can transition to the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) without losing benefits. The bill automatically switches eligibility to Chapter 33, bypassing standard service-credit restrictions that would otherwise reduce their benefit duration. This creates a seamless transition to continued education support while maintaining the same benefit level. The policy change takes effect on the specified termination date, 2029.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill transitions Gold Star families to Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) without service-credit barriers, expanding education benefit access for veterans' families.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Military Families Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 29, 2025

S 2501: VSAFE Act of 2025

The VSAFE Act of 2025 creates a new "Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer" within the Department of Veterans Affairs to combat scams targeting veterans. This officer will develop fraud prevention guidelines, promote the VSAFE Fraud Hotline and website, coordinate with agencies like the IRS and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and monitor fraud metrics for veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. The bill establishes this role without increasing staffing or altering the Inspector General’s authority. It focuses on improving communication, reporting systems, and cross-agency coordination to protect veterans from identity theft and financial scams.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates VA officer to combat scams targeting veterans, protecting benefits and services through fraud prevention and coordination.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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passed · United States · House Apr 8, 2025

HR 877: Deliver for Veterans Act

HR 877, the Deliver for Veterans Act, amends existing law to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) covers the full cost of delivering adaptive vehicles to eligible veterans. Specifically, it updates Section 3902(a) of Title 38 to include "the total shipping price to deliver the automobile or other conveyance to the veteran" in the VA's payment obligation. This change directly affects veterans who receive adaptive vehicles through the VA's program, removing a previous barrier where shipping costs might have been their responsibility. The bill makes no new eligibility rules but clarifies that the VA must pay for both the vehicle purchase and its delivery to the veteran's location. This is a technical adjustment to improve the existing program's implementation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands VA coverage for adaptive vehicles, improving access to essential mobility equipment for veterans, which supports healthcare services and patient access.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRemoves shipping cost barrier for adaptive vehicles, expanding VA benefit coverage to ensure full delivery cost is covered for eligible veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · Senate Sep 3, 2025

S 2698: Safeguarding Department of Veterans Affairs Dependent Education Benefits Act of 2025

This bill allows spouses and dependent children to regain Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits that were terminated when a veteran was discharged due to domestic violence or sexual assault against them. It requires applicants to prove the veteran’s discharge resulted from a dependent-abuse offense (like domestic violence) with evidence, and reinstates only unused portions of previously transferred benefits. The application process must be trauma-informed, and denied requests can be reviewed by the Secretary of Defense or Homeland Security within 30 days. It directly affects veterans’ families who lost benefits due to abusive circumstances, not all discharged veterans.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access for military dependents by reinstating unused GI Bill benefits after discharge due to domestic violence, protecting access to higher education.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransReinstates terminated education benefits for dependents after veteran's DV discharge, expanding access to GI Bill benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Military Families Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

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