Veterans

This bill creates a new system for recognizing and regulating individuals who help veterans file benefit claims. It requires the VA to provide veterans with information about free assistance options and maintain a public list of accredited representatives. The bill sets a maximum fee limit of $12,500 or 5 times the monthly benefit increase for representatives, and establishes penalties for unaccredited representatives who charge improper fees. The law aims to protect veterans from unscrupulous representatives while ensuring they have access to quality assistance with their benefit claims.

Veterans' Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers Act of 2025 or the Veterans' ACCESS Act of 2025 This bill addresses the administration of the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) and other Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care matters. Among other provisions regarding the VCCP, the bill establishes in statute access standards that determine when a veteran is eligible to receive non-VA care through the VCCP, requires the VA to notify veterans regarding their eligibility for care within two business days after the VA is aware the veteran is seeking care, and extends the deadline for the submittal of claims under the VCCP by health care entities and providers. The VA must address its mental health treatment programs by establishing a standardized screening process to determine whether a veteran satisfies criteria for priority or routine admission to a mental health residential rehabilitation treatment program or a program for residential care for mental health and substance abuse disorders, tracking the performance of medical facilities and Veterans Integrated Service Networks in meeting the requirements for mental health treatment screenings and timely admission to treatment programs under such screenings, and establishing an appeal process for when a veteran is denied admission to a covered treatment program or is accepted into a program but not offered bed placement in a timely manner. Additionally, the VA must establish an online self-service module for veterans to request and manage appointments, track referrals, and appeal and track decisions related to requests for care.

HR 5949, the Rural Veterans Dental Care Act, establishes a pilot program to provide dental care to veterans living in rural areas lacking nearby dental clinics. Starting October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2029, the program will use mobile dental units - like vans, modular clinics at community centers, and temporary structures at outreach events - to deliver care directly to veterans residing more than 75 miles from existing VA dental facilities. Priority is given to rural areas with high veteran populations and significant unmet dental needs. The program requires annual reports on participants, locations, costs, and recommendations for potential expansion or permanence.

HR 3753, the Expanding Access for Online Veteran Students Act, would increase housing stipends for veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill to take fully online courses. Currently, veterans enrolled solely in distance learning programs receive only 50% of the standard housing allowance; this bill removes that restriction, providing full housing stipends for online students attending more than half-time. The change applies to all veterans pursuing online degrees under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, ensuring they receive the same housing support as on-campus students. The policy takes effect for terms beginning August 1, 2025.

HR 965, the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act, amends the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 to exclude certain disability benefits from income calculations for housing assistance. Specifically, it removes benefits received under Chapters 11 or 15 of Title 38 (veterans' disability compensation) from income counts for the Section 8 supported housing program and eligibility for other housing assistance. This change directly helps disabled veterans receiving these benefits by making them more likely to qualify for HUD-administered housing programs. The bill applies to veterans renting residential units on Department property under HUD housing assistance programs established after the bill's enactment.

Dental Care for Veterans Act This bill expands eligibility for veterans for dental care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Specifically, the bill makes all veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system eligible for VA-provided dental services. Currently, only veterans who have a service-connected dental issue or meet other narrow criteria are eligible for certain dental services. The bill phases in eligibility over four years based upon existing eligibility, degree of service-connected disability or other disability, prisoner of war status, award of a Purple Heart, financial need, or VA health care eligibility.

This bill provides mortgage forbearance for homeowners and multifamily property owners with federally backed loans (such as FHA, VA, USDA, or federally securitized mortgages) in areas affected by federally declared disasters. Borrowers can request a 180-day payment pause during the disaster period, extendable by up to 180 more days, with no additional fees, penalties, or interest accruing beyond scheduled amounts. Servicers must grant this forbearance promptly upon request, regardless of the borrower's loan delinquency status. The policy applies to disasters declared on or after January 1, 2025.

This bill removes pay caps for therapeutic and diagnostic medical physicists employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It directly affects VA-employed medical physicists who specialize in radiation treatment planning (therapeutic) and imaging diagnostics (diagnostic), who previously faced lower pay rates than other VA healthcare professionals. The key mechanism amends Title 38 of the U.S. Code to insert these roles into pay classifications, qualifications, and grade structures alongside physicians, podiatrists, and dentists. The bill also requires the VA Secretary to submit a report within one year assessing the impact of these pay changes on staffing, costs, and care provided under VA agreements.

The Love Lives On Act of 2025 modifies veterans' and military survivors' benefit rules to prevent remarriage from automatically ending eligibility. It directly affects surviving spouses of veterans or military members who remarried, ensuring they retain access to key benefits. Key provisions include: (1) preventing termination of veterans' dependency compensation (under 38 U.S.C. §1311/1562) due to remarriage; (2) stopping termination of military Survivor Benefit Plan annuities solely for remarriage, with specific rules for those who remarried before age 55; and (3) expanding TRICARE coverage to include remarried widows/widowers whose subsequent marriage ended (via death, divorce, or annulment). These changes restore or maintain benefits that were previously lost upon remarriage.

HR 5995, the "Have You Served Act," provides grants to states and tribes with veteran suicide prevention plans to fund "Ask the Question Campaigns." These campaigns train human services professionals, local governments, and community providers to respectfully ask clients if they or a loved one served in the military, then connect them to VA resources. The bill authorizes $6 million annually (2026-2030) for up to 25 grants of $200,000 each to support this training and outreach. It directly affects veterans and their families by improving access to VA services through community-based referrals, without changing eligibility for benefits.