Veterans

signed · United States · House Mar 26, 2026

HR 7211: To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to John W. Ripley for acts of valor during the Vietnam War, and for other purposes.

This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Marine Corps veteran John W. Ripley for his acts of valor on April 2, 1972, during the Vietnam War. It specifically overrides standard time limits for Medal of Honor awards (under 10 U.S. Code sections 8298(a) and 8300) that would otherwise prevent the award for actions occurring decades earlier. Ripley had previously received the Navy Cross for the same actions. The bill directly affects Ripley’s eligibility for the highest military honor, bypassing standard procedural barriers.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill authorizes Medal of Honor award for veteran's valor, directly recognizing and honoring military service per topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

in committee · United States · House Jun 26, 2025

HR 4189: To direct the Secretary of the Navy to recognize certain aspects of the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, as a national memorial, national memorial garden, and national K9 memorial, and for other purposes.

HR 4189 directs the Secretary of the Navy to officially designate three specific features at the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, as national memorials. It recognizes the museum's Memorial as a national memorial, its Memorial Garden and Living Beach as a national memorial garden, and its Naval Special Warfare K9 Memorial as a national K9 memorial. These designations apply solely to the existing sites at the museum's location (3300 North Highway A1A, North Hutchinson Island) and honor Navy SEAL history and service dogs. The bill is procedural, focusing on formal recognition without altering funding, policy, or creating new obligations.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill designates Navy SEAL museum features as national memorials, directly recognizing veterans' service - aligns with veteran recognition policy indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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in committee · United States · House Apr 8, 2025

HR 2752: Ensuring Safer Schools Act of 2025

HR 2752, the Ensuring Safer Schools Act of 2025, amends federal grant programs to prioritize hiring veterans and retired law enforcement officers as school resource officers (SROs). The bill requires COPS grants to give preferential consideration for applications focused on recruiting these individuals, adds annual mental health screenings and training for SROs, and defines "veteran or retired law enforcement officer" for grant eligibility. It also mandates coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs and schools to connect veterans with SRO roles. This directly affects schools receiving COPS grants, veterans seeking SRO positions, and local law enforcement agencies partnering with schools. The law changes how federal funds are administered for school safety roles, not school policies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prioritizes hiring veterans/retired officers as SROs via COPS grants and mandates SRO mental health training, strengthening school law enforcement presence within criminal justice framework.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates annual mental health screenings and training for SROs, supporting mental health services in schools.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly prioritizes hiring veterans as school resource officers through COPS grants with preferential consideration, directly supporting veteran employment opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Mental Health Veteran Education Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Apr 8, 2025

HR 2717: Servicewomen and Veterans Menopause Research Act

This bill requires the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to evaluate existing and ongoing research on menopause, perimenopause, and mid-life health for women in the military and as veterans. It directs them to identify gaps in knowledge about treatments, the impact of military service (including combat roles and exposure to toxins like burn pits), mental health effects, and healthcare provider training needs. Within 180 days of enactment, the departments must submit a report with findings and a strategic plan to address identified gaps and prioritize future research. The bill ensures this work supplements, rather than duplicates, existing efforts by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirects military/veteran healthcare research to identify treatment gaps and improve provider training, advancing targeted healthcare services for women veterans.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates research on women veterans' menopause health to identify gaps and improve healthcare, directly advancing veteran healthcare services through evidence-based policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Military Families Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Mar 4, 2025

HR 790: To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize an individual who is awarded the Purple Heart for service in the Armed Forces to transfer unused Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to a family member, and for other purposes.

This bill (HR 790) allows veterans awarded the Purple Heart for service after September 11, 2001, to transfer unused Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits to eligible family members. It specifically permits Purple Heart recipients to transfer up to 36 months of unused benefits to dependents (like children or spouses) who meet existing eligibility criteria. The transfer requires written notification to the VA and Defense Department, and beneficiaries must meet age or educational milestones (e.g., high school completion or age 18) before using the benefits. The bill does not change the 36-month transfer limit or the core rules for benefit usage, but adds Purple Heart recipients to the existing list of veterans eligible to transfer benefits.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands higher education access by allowing Purple Heart recipients to transfer unused GI Bill benefits to family members, directly increasing educational funding opportunities for dependents.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly expands veterans' educational benefits by enabling Purple Heart recipients to transfer unused GI Bill benefits to family members, strengthening support for veterans and dependents.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Military Families Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

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in committee · United States · House Jan 6, 2026

HR 6940: Hope Heals Act of 2026

HR 6940, the Hope Heals Act of 2026, directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to assess how federal agencies can better identify individuals in mental health crises and coordinate suicide prevention resources. Within 180 days of enactment, HHS must evaluate sharing information, best practices, and screening tools like the PHQ-3 across departments including Veterans Affairs, Defense, and Education. The assessment requires consultation with mental health experts and must result in a report to Congress with recommendations for improving crisis identification and support. Federal agencies would then implement these recommendations to enhance coordination and awareness of mental health crisis signs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates HHS assessment to improve mental health crisis coordination and suicide prevention resources, directly supporting mental health services.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly requires HHS to assess coordination with VA for mental health crisis resources, directly targeting veterans' healthcare needs through suicide prevention coordination.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 17, 2025

S 2344: Department of Veterans Affairs Claim Sharks Effective Warnings Act of 2025

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to display clear warnings on all public-facing VA websites and online tools about predatory practices. Specifically, it mandates that VA websites warn veterans not to share their account login credentials or bank account information (like usernames/passwords) with anyone. The law amends existing VA procedures to add this security warning as a standard message during website logins. The Chief Veterans Experience Officer will implement these changes, effective 180 days after the bill's enactment. The policy directly affects veterans using VA online services by strengthening protections against fraudulent agents targeting their personal information.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates VA security warnings to prevent sharing login/bank data, directly enhancing cybersecurity and data privacy protections for veterans.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates VA website warnings to prevent fraud, protecting veterans' personal information from predatory practices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy Digital Government Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · House Jun 23, 2025

HR 3855: 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.

HR 3855 bans smoking and vaping in all Veterans Health Administration facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. It prohibits all tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars) and electronic nicotine devices (e-cigarettes, vape pens) for everyone on the premises - veterans, patients, staff, contractors, and visitors. The law applies to all VA-owned or controlled facilities, creating smoke-free environments for health and safety. This policy change directly affects all individuals using VA healthcare locations nationwide.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans tobacco in VA healthcare facilities to protect health and safety, directly advancing public health initiatives within healthcare settings.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBans smoking/vaping in VA facilities, creating smoke-free workplaces that improve staff and patient safety, directly aligning with workplace safety protections under Labor & Employment.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBans smoking/vaping in VA facilities to improve health environment for veterans, directly protecting their healthcare experience.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Nov 7, 2025

HR 5934: Major Thomas D. Howie Congressional Gold Medal

HR 5934, the Major Thomas D. Howie Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Major Thomas D. Howie for his bravery and service during the Battle of Normandy in World War II. The medal, to be struck by the U.S. Mint, will be presented to his nephew, Tom Howie, or his next of kin, and then displayed at The Citadel Museum. This bill is purely commemorative and does not create new legal requirements or funding obligations. It honors Major Howie’s leadership in capturing St. Lo, France - a pivotal moment in liberating Western Europe from Nazi occupation - based on his documented sacrifice during the 1944 campaign.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill honors WWII veteran's service with commemorative medal, directly recognizing military sacrifice per topic description's support indicator.90% confidence

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in committee · United States · House Jul 23, 2025

HR 4655: United States-Israel PTSD Collaborative Research Act

HR 4655 establishes a grant program to fund joint U.S.-Israel research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It directs the Secretary of Defense to award grants to U.S. academic institutions or nonprofits partnering with Israeli organizations to develop new PTSD treatments and diagnostics. The program requires research projects to address specific PTSD needs identified by the Department of Defense and mandates joint agreements between U.S. and Israeli entities. Grants must be used for collaborative research, with reports submitted to Congress within 180 days of project completion, and the program terminates 7 years after the first grant is awarded.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes grant program to fund PTSD research and treatment development, directly advancing mental health services and medical research.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransFunds joint U.S.-Israel PTSD research targeting treatment/diagnostic development, directly addressing a key veteran healthcare need identified by DoD.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Mental Health

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