Veterans (Veteran Healthcare)

in committee · United States · House Jul 8, 2025

HR 4160: Veterans Border Patrol Training Act

HR 4160, the Veterans Border Patrol Training Act, creates a 5-year pilot program to train and hire transitioning military service members as U.S. Border Patrol agents. The bill directs the Department of Homeland Security, working with the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, to use the existing Defense Department's SkillBridge program to prepare service members for Border Patrol roles. It requires annual reports to Congress tracking participation numbers and demographics, including active-duty members, veterans, and their families. The program terminates automatically after five years unless extended. This bill directly affects military personnel transitioning to civilian careers and aims to streamline their path into Border Patrol employment.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationCreates program to hire more Border Patrol agents, increasing enforcement capacity per bill's focus on border security training.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates employment pathway for veterans via Border Patrol hiring using SkillBridge program, directly supporting veteran transition services and job placement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security Veteran Education Veteran Employment Veteran Healthcare

Track

in committee · United States · House Jun 28, 2025

HR 4188: VA Flood Preparedness Act

The VA Flood Preparedness Act allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide funding to local authorities for projects that reduce flood risks near VA medical facilities, including risks from rising sea levels. This directly affects VA medical facilities nationwide and the local governments managing flood infrastructure adjacent to those sites. The bill requires the VA Secretary to submit a report within two years assessing flood risks at each facility and determining if additional resources are needed for mitigation.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill directly addresses climate change impacts (rising sea levels) by funding flood risk reduction near VA facilities, advancing environmental protection through climate resilience measures.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransFunds flood risk reduction near VA medical facilities, protecting healthcare access infrastructure for veterans. Directly strengthens facility safety and service continuity.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Natural Disasters Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 25, 2025

S 2171: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit smoking on the premises of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes.

This bill prohibits all smoking - including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and e-cigarettes - in every Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility, such as medical centers, clinics, and nursing homes. It directly affects all individuals on VHA premises, including veterans, patients, staff, contractors, and visitors. The law explicitly bans all tobacco combustion and electronic nicotine products, defining "smoke" to cover both traditional and e-cigarette use. This replaces existing rules and applies uniformly across all VHA-operated facilities under Department of Veterans Affairs jurisdiction.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits smoking in VA healthcare facilities, protecting patients/staff from tobacco exposure and aligning with public health goals in healthcare settings.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProhibits smoking in VHA facilities to protect veterans' health in healthcare settings, directly improving safety and care quality.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 27, 2025

S 793: A bill to amend the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 to modify and reauthorize the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

S 793 amends the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program under the 2019 Veterans Mental Health Act to better support veterans' suicide prevention efforts. Key changes include increasing the maximum grant amount from $750,000 to $1.25 million, extending the program’s funding period through fiscal year 2028 with $285 million allocated (up from $174 million), and requiring the VA to establish new metrics for program evaluation. The bill also removes specific references to the "President’s Roadmap" task force, allowing the VA Secretary more flexibility in program oversight, and mandates annual briefings for nearby VA medical centers to improve coordination with grantees. These changes directly affect veterans' mental health programs receiving VA grants and aim to enhance program accountability and effectiveness.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases VA grant funding from $174M to $285M for veterans' suicide prevention, directly allocating more government spending on a public service program.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases VA suicide prevention grant funding ($750k→$1.25M), extends program through 2028 ($285M allocation), and adds evaluation metrics - directly advancing veterans' mental health care services.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransIncreases grant amounts to $1.25M, extends funding through 2028 with $285M, and adds VA program evaluation metrics for veteran suicide prevention.95% confidence

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

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 11, 2025

SRES 74: An original resolution authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

This resolution authorizes the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs to spend up to $2.67 million from the Senate's contingent fund for operations from March 2025 through September 2025, with additional limits of $4.58 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1.91 million through February 2027. It specifically permits the committee to hire staff, pay for consultant services (with annual caps of $58,000-$42,000), and cover staff training costs (capped at $40,000-$30,000 annually). The resolution outlines strict spending limits and procedures for reimbursing agency personnel services, while exempting routine administrative expenses like salaries and stationery from standard voucher requirements. This procedural resolution directly affects only the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, enabling its operational budgeting under Senate rules.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAuthorizes $2.67M+ for Veterans' Affairs Committee operations, including staff and training, directly funding committee functions supporting veterans' services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition National Guard & Reserve Veteran Healthcare

Track

in committee · United States · House Mar 27, 2025

HR 1746: SAVE Act

The SAVE Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit an annual report to Congress detailing its accreditation process for representatives who assist veterans with benefit claims. The report must cover training requirements, data collection methods, verification procedures, database accuracy, staffing, costs, and denial rates for accreditation applications. It also establishes a certification mark for accredited representatives and imposes civil penalties for fraudulent use of the mark, while mandating regular updates to the VA’s public database of accredited representatives. This directly affects VA administrators, veterans’ representatives, and the transparency of the accreditation system.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRequires VA to report on accreditation process for veteran benefit representatives, enhancing oversight and reducing fraud, supporting veterans' access to benefits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Employment Veteran Healthcare

Track

in committee · United States · House Feb 6, 2025

HR 72: TBI and PTSD Treatment Act

HR 72, the TBI and PTSD Treatment Act, authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a covered treatment for veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This bill directly affects eligible veterans with these specific conditions by expanding their access to this treatment option through VA-approved health care providers. The key provision adds a new section (1710F) to Title 38, specifying that the Secretary must furnish this therapy under existing VA healthcare authority. The bill does not create new benefits but formalizes coverage for this specific treatment method for qualifying veterans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands VA coverage for TBI/PTSD treatment, improving access to mental health services for veterans through new covered therapy option.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly expands VA healthcare coverage by authorizing hyperbaric oxygen therapy for TBI/PTSD, directly advancing veterans' medical benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

Track

in committee · United States · House Feb 20, 2025

HR 438: PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act

This bill establishes a Veterans Affairs grant program to fund peer-to-peer mental health support for veterans. It provides up to $250,000 per grant to eligible organizations (like veteran nonprofits, service groups, or state agencies) to hire veterans as peer specialists who host nonclinical support groups and offer 24/7 mental health assistance. The program prohibits grant recipients from collecting or reporting veterans' personal information. It directly affects veterans seeking accessible, nonclinical mental health support through peer-led services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds peer mental health support for veterans via VA grants, expanding access to nonclinical care and protecting veteran privacy.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes VA grant program funding veteran peer mental health support, prohibits data collection, directly advances veterans' healthcare access.95% confidence

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

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 11, 2025

S 892: Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act of 2025

This bill (S 892) amends Section 6107 of Title 38, U.S. Code, to improve how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) handles misused benefits. It requires the VA to reissue misused benefits to veterans (or their successor guardians) when a guardian (fiduciary) improperly uses their payments, and to make good-faith efforts to recover those funds from the misusing guardian. If a veteran dies before receiving reissued benefits, the VA must pay the amount to the appropriate beneficiary under existing law, but not to the misusing guardian. The law ensures veterans directly affected by fiduciary misuse receive the full amount misused, with no additional payment beyond the original misused benefit.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill ensures veterans receive misused benefits reissued by VA and recovers funds from fiduciaries, protecting entitlements per Title 38 amendments.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

Track

passed · United States · House Apr 10, 2025

HR 981: VETT Act

The VETT Act (HR 981) improves transparency for veterans using education benefits by changing how educational institutions share program details. It requires schools to provide veterans with a clear notice if they cannot supply complete information about program costs or terms, including what is missing and the best available estimate for that information. The bill also mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a central website for regularly updating training resources for school officials who handle veterans' education benefits. These changes directly affect veterans seeking education assistance and the colleges/universities participating in VA programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill improves transparency for veterans' education benefits, enhancing access to higher education resources through clearer program cost disclosures and VA resource updates.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill improves transparency for veterans' education benefits by requiring clear institutional notices and VA website updates, directly advancing access to services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

Track