Veterans (Veteran Benefits)

in committee · United States · Senate Apr 9, 2025

S 1361: Every State Counts for Veterans Mental Health Act

This bill prioritizes states that have never received a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) suicide prevention grant. It requires the VA Secretary to give all eligible applicants in such states a scoring preference during grant evaluations until at least one grant is awarded there. The law directly affects veterans in states without existing VA suicide prevention grants by ensuring these states receive fair consideration for funding. Key mechanisms include prioritizing entities in states with prior unawarded applications and applying a scoring preference for all applicants in states with no prior grants. This aims to expand access to mental health support for veterans nationwide.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds VA suicide prevention grants in states without existing programs, directly supporting mental health services for veterans.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransPrioritizes VA suicide prevention grants for states without existing funding, ensuring expanded mental health support for veterans through direct funding mechanisms.95% confidence

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

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in committee · United States · House Dec 3, 2025

HR 4077: GUARD Veterans’ Health Care Act

This bill requires Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for health care services provided to veterans enrolled in those plans, including outpatient care, prescription drugs, and inpatient services. It establishes a new process for the VA to recover costs from Medicare plans, requiring these plans to respond to reimbursement claims within 45 days and face penalties for non-compliance, including triple damages for willful violations. The law modifies existing VA authority to recover costs for non-service-connected disabilities by clarifying recovery procedures and requiring Medicare plans to coordinate benefits with VA care. The provisions apply to Medicare plan years beginning January 1, 2026, and directly affect Medicare Advantage organizations and prescription drug plan sponsors that serve veterans. This policy change ensures veterans receive full benefits without double payments by requiring Medicare plans to reimburse the VA for services they cover.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires Medicare plans to reimburse VA for veteran care, ensuring funding for services and protecting access to healthcare.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRequires Medicare plans to reimburse VA for veteran care, strengthening healthcare access and preventing cost burdens on VA services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare Prescription Drugs Substance Abuse Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · House Mar 26, 2025

HR 1344: Dennis and Lois Krisfalusy Act

This bill amends a provision of law governing eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs headstones, markers, and burial receptacles. It removes a requirement that a veteran must have died on or after November 11, 1998, to qualify for these burial benefits. By eliminating this date cutoff, the bill expands eligibility to veterans who died before that date. This change would directly affect veterans who died prior to November 11, 1998, and their families, allowing them to receive these burial benefits.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRemoves date cutoff for VA burial benefits, expanding eligibility to veterans who died before 1998, directly advancing veterans' burial services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · Senate Dec 8, 2025

S 3388: SERVE Act

The SERVE Act requires the Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) to create facility-specific action plans improving coordination between military and VA medical systems. These plans mandate cross-credentialing doctors to work across both systems, designated coordinators at each facility, and integrated IT systems for seamless medical records sharing. The law directly affects enrolled VA patients living near military medical facilities with unused capacity, aiming to increase their access to care at those locations. It includes annual reporting to Congress on implementation progress, patient safety, and costs, with the law set to expire in 2028.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates cross-credentialing, coordination, and integrated records to improve access for VA patients near military facilities, directly advancing healthcare coordination and patient access.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill mandates improved coordination between VA and military healthcare systems, cross-credentialing, and integrated records to enhance veteran access to care near military facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing National Guard & Reserve Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · House Jan 22, 2026

HR 6858: Veteran Suicide Prevention Act

The Veteran Suicide Prevention Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a comprehensive review of all veterans who died by suicide during the five years before the bill's enactment. The review must analyze demographics, medication history (including black box warnings and psychotropic drugs), prescribing patterns, combat trauma, and facility-specific suicide rates. The VA must submit a public report to Congress within 30 days of completing the review, detailing findings and recommendations to improve veteran safety. This applies to all veterans who received VA care during the relevant five-year period. The law aims to identify systemic patterns and inform future suicide prevention efforts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates VA review of veteran suicides to improve mental health care and suicide prevention services, strengthening healthcare support for veterans.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates VA review of veteran suicides to improve healthcare protocols, directly enhancing veteran mental health services through data-driven prevention strategies.95% confidence

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

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in committee · United States · House Jul 18, 2025

HR 4480: Improving Disaster Assistance for Veterans Act

HR 4480, the Improving Disaster Assistance for Veterans Act, creates a dedicated "Veterans Advocate" position within FEMA. This advocate would specifically ensure veterans' needs are addressed during disaster declarations and emergency responses, serving as the main contact between FEMA and veterans' organizations. The bill requires the advocate to participate in declaration processes, identify veteran recruitment opportunities within FEMA, and conduct other activities to improve veterans' access to disaster assistance. The legislation does not expand existing disaster assistance funding or eligibility but aims to improve how current programs serve veterans.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates FEMA Veterans Advocate to ensure veterans' needs addressed in disaster response, improving access to assistance and coordination with veterans' orgs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Tags Emergency Management

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in committee · United States · House Apr 4, 2025

HR 2102: Major Richard Star Act

This bill, HR 2102 (Major Richard Star Act), allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both full military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation simultaneously, without the previous offset that reduced retired pay. It directly affects veterans already eligible for both benefits due to combat-related injuries, removing the requirement that their retired pay be reduced by the disability compensation amount. The key provision amends Title 10 and Title 38 to eliminate the offset rule (sections 5304 and 5305 of Title 38) for these veterans. The change applies to payments starting after the bill’s enactment date, effective for all qualifying veterans. This is a policy change to increase financial support for affected veterans, not a new benefit.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEliminates offset requiring reduced retired pay, allowing veterans to receive full military retired pay and disability compensation simultaneously - expanding benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics National Guard & Reserve Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · House Mar 4, 2025

HR 874: To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the rate of pay for care or services provided under the Community Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs based on the location at which such care or services were provided, and for other purposes.

HR 874 modifies how the VA pays for community care provided to veterans under its Community Care Program. It requires the VA to set location-specific payment rates for care delivered at specific facilities (like inpatient hospitals, outpatient departments, or physician offices), regardless of where the provider is headquartered. The bill also mandates that providers include a geographically specific national provider ID code in payment claims and directs the VA to pay the lowest applicable rate if multiple rates apply. These changes take effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareModifies VA payment rates for community care based on location, ensuring fair compensation and program sustainability for veteran healthcare services.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransModifies VA community care payment structure to use location-based rates, ensuring consistent access to veteran healthcare services without reducing funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 11, 2025

S 478: Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025

Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025 This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from transmitting certain information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) utilized by licensed importers or dealers of firearms. Specifically, the bill prohibits the VA from transmitting personally identifying information of a veteran or a beneficiary to the NICS solely on the basis that such veteran or beneficiary has an appointed fiduciary to manage their benefits, unless there is an order or finding of a judicial authority that such veteran or beneficiary is a danger to themselves or others.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProhibits VA from sharing veteran data with NICS, preventing potential firearm access restrictions and protecting Second Amendment rights for veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 18, 2025

S 2134: Veterans Full-Service Care and Access Act of 2025

This bill requires the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to ensure that veterans eligible for VA hospital care in each of the 48 contiguous states can receive treatment at a VA full-service hospital located within that state. If no VA hospital is available in a state, the VHA must contract with other healthcare providers to offer comparable services. The law also clarifies that veterans may still receive care at VA facilities in other states if needed, and mandates a report to Congress within one year on implementation progress and impacts on care quality. It directly affects veterans seeking VA hospital care across 48 states, with no changes to eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires VA hospitals to provide state-based access, mandates contracting for comparable care, and ensures veterans' access - directly improving healthcare access for veterans.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill mandates VA hospitals provide care within states or contract for comparable services, ensuring access to veterans' healthcare without restriction or defunding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

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