Veterans

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 21, 2026

S 3131: USS Frank E. Evans Act

S 3131, the USS Frank E. Evans Act, requires the Secretary of Defense to add the names of 74 crew members lost when the USS Frank E. Evans sank on June 3, 1969, to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., within one year of the bill's enactment. The bill mandates consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, and other authorities to address space limitations for adding these names. It explicitly states that the Commemorative Works Act does not apply to this memorial addition. The bill directly affects the families of the 74 crew members by ensuring their names are commemorated on the memorial.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAdds 74 fallen veterans' names to Vietnam Memorial, directly recognizing service per topic description. Explicitly honors veterans' sacrifice without ambiguity.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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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 Jan 16, 2025

S 138: VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2025

This bill, the VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2025, requires lenders using the Uniform Residential Loan Application to add a specific disclaimer below the military service question. The disclaimer states: "If yes, you may qualify for a VA Home Loan. Consult your lender regarding eligibility." It directly affects lenders nationwide who use this standard loan form. The bill mandates this change within six months of enactment and includes a requirement for the GAO to study whether at least 80% of lenders comply within 18 months. The goal is to increase veteran homebuyers' awareness of VA loan programs.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill increases awareness of VA home loans, providing affordable housing access for veterans through an existing program, directly supporting housing affordability for a specific group.80% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill mandates lenders to disclose VA home loan eligibility, increasing awareness of existing benefits to improve veteran access to housing programs without altering benefit structure.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Mortgages Veteran Housing

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in committee · United States · House May 14, 2026

HR 5999: To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish an opioid antagonist to a veteran without requiring a prescription or copayment.

This bill (HR 5999) requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide opioid antagonists (like naloxone) to enrolled veterans without needing a prescription or charging a copayment. It directly affects veterans receiving VA healthcare who may need emergency reversal of opioid overdoses. The key provisions mandate the VA to furnish these life-saving medications directly and eliminate both the prescription requirement and cost barrier. This policy change aims to improve immediate access to overdose reversal for veterans without requiring additional medical steps or financial burden.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill eliminates prescription and cost barriers for VA-provided naloxone, directly improving emergency opioid overdose access - aligns with expanding patient access and protecting health services.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEliminates prescription/cost barriers for VA-provided naloxone, directly improving emergency opioid overdose access for veterans in healthcare95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Jun 11, 2025

HR 3031: Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act

This bill expands eligibility for career services under the Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program to include spouses of military members who died in service (Gold Star spouses) and surviving spouses of service members who died while on active duty. It amends existing law to define "eligible person" as these spouses, replacing or adding to previous veteran-focused language. The key change allows these spouses to access career counseling, job training, and employment assistance previously available primarily to veterans themselves. This directly affects military families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty, providing them with new pathways to workforce support. The bill modifies specific sections of Title 38, U.S. Code, to implement this expanded eligibility.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands employment assistance services to Gold Star spouses, aligning with worker benefit expansion through career counseling and job training access.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands career services eligibility to Gold Star and surviving spouses, directly supporting veteran-related employment benefits through program access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development Military Families Veteran Education Veteran Employment

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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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passed · United States · Senate Dec 19, 2025

S 1204: Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act

This bill expands access to career services by updating the Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program to include surviving spouses of service members who died while on active duty. It amends eligibility criteria to cover "eligible persons," defined as spouses of veterans who died in service (Gold Star spouses) or spouses of those who died while serving in the Armed Forces. The change ensures these surviving spouses can access job training, employment assistance, and career counseling previously available only to veterans themselves. This directly affects Gold Star families and surviving spouses of fallen service members seeking workforce support.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands job training, employment assistance, and career counseling for Gold Star spouses, directly advancing employment standards and workforce access.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands career services access for Gold Star spouses (surviving spouses of service members who died in duty), enhancing employment support for veterans' families.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development Military Families Veteran Education Veteran Employment

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in committee · United States · House May 8, 2025

HR 2623: Innovative Therapies Centers of Excellence Act of 2025

HR 2623, the Innovative Therapies Centers of Excellence Act of 2025, directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish at least five specialized medical centers focused on treating veterans with specific conditions like PTSD, depression, chronic pain, and substance use disorders using innovative therapies. These centers must meet strict criteria, including academic partnerships with medical schools, research capabilities, veteran advisory committees, and data-sharing systems for evaluating treatment effectiveness. The bill authorizes $30 million annually for these centers' research and education activities and requires the VA to submit annual reports to Congress on their operations and findings. It directly affects veterans seeking advanced treatments for covered conditions through VA facilities and establishes a peer review process to select designated centers based on scientific merit.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates VA centers for veterans with mental health/substance use disorders using innovative therapies, expanding specialized care and research to advance mental health services.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill directs VA to establish specialized centers for veterans' PTSD, depression, chronic pain, and substance use treatment, expanding healthcare access and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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passed · United States · Senate Jul 15, 2025

SRES 322: A resolution expressing support for the designation of the month of June 2025 as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month" and June 27, 2025, as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day".

SRES 322 designates June 2025 as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month" and June 27, 2025, as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day" to raise public awareness about post-traumatic stress, particularly among veterans and military personnel. The resolution supports efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense to educate about symptoms, treatment, and stigma reduction, while encouraging cultural change and appropriate care. This symbolic gesture has no legal effect or funding implications but aims to reduce stigma and promote mental health support for those affected.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransDesignates PTSD awareness month/day for veterans, supporting VA/DoD education efforts on symptoms/treatment, aligning with recognition of veteran service.65% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Nov 20, 2025

S 3265: Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act

This bill extends and expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which helps employers hire from targeted groups like veterans, long-term welfare recipients, and individuals in high-unemployment areas. It extends the program through 2030 (from 2025), increases the credit rate to 50% for certain new hires (up from 40%), adds automatic annual inflation adjustments to key dollar amounts, and expands eligibility to include military spouses and people receiving SNAP benefits without an age limit. Employers hiring from these groups will see higher tax credits for qualifying wages, with new rules specifically for agricultural workers, summer youth employees, and veterans. The changes apply to workers hired after December 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands Work Opportunity Tax Credit with higher rates and broader eligibility, providing tax relief to employers hiring targeted groups, directly strengthening tax incentive programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends WOTC through 2030, increases credit rate to 50%, expands eligibility to military spouses/SNAP recipients - directly enhances employment opportunities for targeted groups95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly includes veterans as a targeted group for WOTC, supporting veteran employment through tax incentives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Unemployment Veteran Employment

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