Signed into Law
The Department of Veterans Affairs Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks “MISSION” Act
The VA MISSION Act would streamline the department’s duplicative community care programs into one cohesive program; create a non-partisan process for reviewing VA’s assets to ensure veterans can access the care they have earned and expand the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Post-9/11 Caregiver Program to all eras. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3949: Veteran Apprenticeship and Labor Opportunity Reform (VALOR) Act
The VALOR Act, introduced by Rep. Ro Khanna, would simplify an approval process by allowing companies to register their apprenticeship programs with one central approval agency. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.49
H.R. 3819: The Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017
H.R. 3819, introduced by Rep. Brian Mast, would extend a number of expiring authorities impacting veterans’ benefits, health care, and homeless programs, including nursing home care, support services for caregivers, transportation, child care assistance, adaptive sports programs and housing and home loan services. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3656: To establish a consistent applicability date for provision of memorial headstones and markers for eligible non-veteran individuals
H.R. 3656, introduced by Rep. Jim Banks, would provide a headstone or marker for all eligible non-veterans who die on or after November 11, 1998. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3218: The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017
The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, introduced by Rep. Phil Roe, would remove time restrictions to use the GI Bill, enabling future eligible recipients to use their GI bill benefits for their entire lives, as opposed to the current 15-year timeline. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3122: Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2017
The Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2017, introduced by Rep. Matt Cartwright, directs VA to work with federal agencies and states to develop and implement standards that protect individuals who are eligible for this increased pension from dishonest, predatory or otherwise unlawful practices. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 2519: The American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act
The American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act, introduced by Chairman Roe3 and Ranking Member Walz, would authorize the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue commemorative coins in recognition and celebration of the 100th anniversary of the American Legion. Read the bill here.
H.R. 2288: The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017
The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017, introduced by Reps. Mike Bost and Elizabeth Esty, would modernize the appeals process at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1725: The Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act of 2017
The Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act of 2017, introduced by Ranking Member Walz, as amended, seeks to reduce the number of unnecessary disability examinations by requiring additional information be provided to Congress regarding VA’s use of private medical evidence in support of claims for disability compensation. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1545: The VA Prescription Data Accountability Act
The VA Prescription Data Accountability Act, introduced by Rep. Annie Kuster, would clarify current law to stipulate that VHA is required to disclose information to state controlled substance monitoring programs for anyone – veteran or non-veteran – who is prescribed these medications through VA. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1329: The Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2017
The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2017, introduced by DAMA Chairman Mike Bost and Ranking Member Elizabeth Esty, would increase the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities as well as the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans as of December 1st, 2017. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 244: HIRE Vets Act
The HIRE Vets Act, introduced by Rep. Paul Cook, as amended, would require the Department of Labor to establish a HIRE Vets Medallion Program to recognize companies for their efforts to employ veterans. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
S. 1266: The Enhancing Veteran Care Act
The Enhancing Veteran Care Act would authorize VA to contract with non-profits that accredit health care organizations to investigate VA medical centers. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
S. 1094: The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017
The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 would create a new streamlined and efficient process to remove, demote or suspend any VA employee for poor performance or misconduct with a concrete shortened timeline, while still protecting employees’ due process rights, and would provide them with the right to appeal the action. It would also provide expanded protections for whistleblowers and would specifically bar VA from using this removal authority if the employee has an open whistleblower complaint/case with the Office of Special Counsel. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
S. 324: The State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act of 2017
The State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act of 2017, is similar to H.R. 1005 – Rep. Zeldin’s bill that passed the House on a voice vote on May 23, 2017 – and would direct VA to enter into an agreement or a contract with state veterans homes to pay for adult day health care for a veteran eligible for, but not receiving, nursing home care. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
S. 114: A bill to authorize appropriations for the Veterans Choice Program
S. 114 would provide $2 billion to continue the Choice Program for six months while Congress works on other reforms to the Choice Program. It would also authorize 28 major medical facility leases and enhance the recruitment, retention and training of the VA workforce. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
Senate companion to H.R. 369: Eliminating the Sunset Date of the Choice Act
The Eliminating the Sunset Date of the Choice Act, introduced by Chairman Phil Roe, M.D., would eliminate the statutory sunset date for the Choice Program and instead allow the program to continue until the original funding has been expended. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3562: To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish assistance for adaptations of residences of veterans in rehabilitation programs
H.R. 3561, introduced by EO Chairman Jodey Arrington and Ranking Member Beto O'Rourke, would give VA-designated appraisers the ability to rely solely on information from approved third parties, such as a desktop appraisal, when determining a home’s value for a VA home loan. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1900: National Veterans Memorial and Museum Act
The National Veterans Memorial and Museum Act, introduced by Rep. Steve Stivers, would designate the Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio, as the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. Read the bill here.
H.R. 2772: The VA Senior Executive Accountability Act
The VA Senior Executive Accountability Act, introduced by Rep. Taylor, will improve transparency by requiring VA to inform Congress about where senior executives are being moved. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 4910: The Veterans Cemetery Benefit Correction Act
The Veterans Cemetery Benefit Correction Act, introduced by Rep. Austin Scott, would require the federal government to provide an outer burial receptacle for each new grave of eligible veterans and family members interred in a veterans cemetery under the control of the National Park Service. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 5693: The Long Term Care Veterans Choice Act
The Long Term Care Veterans Choice Act, introduced by Rep. Clay Higgins, would authorize VA, during a three-year period beginning on October 1, 2019, to transfer upon request up to 900 veterans for whom the VA is required to provide nursing home care to a medical foster home that meets VA standards. Please note this legislation was combined with H.R. 5644 and passed the committee on Thursday, July 12, 2018. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 5864: the VA Hospitals Establishing Leadership Performance (VA HELP) Act
The VA Help Act, introduced by Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Mike Bost, would (1) require VA, within 180 days of enactment, to establish qualification standards and performance metrics for VHA HR positions and provide a report to Congress containing such standards and metrics; (2) require GAO to submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs containing a description of the implementation and an assessment of the quality of such standards and metrics. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 4958: The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018
The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018, introduced by DAMA Chairman Mike Bost, would increase the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities as well as the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans as of December 1, 2018. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
S. 2248: Veterans Benefit and Transition Act of 2018
This legislation includes 23 sections that cover a range of veterans’ issues, including provisions that would increase veterans’ benefits to provisions that would improve the transition process from military to civilian life. Many of the provisions in this bill come from legislation previously passed by the House of Representatives. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
Passed House
H.R. 5418: The Veterans Affairs Medical-Surgical Purchasing Stabilization Act
The Veterans Affairs Medical-Surgical Purchasing Stabilization Act, introduced by O&I Chairman Jack Bergman, directs VA to correct the problems with their medical-surgical formulary using input from medical professionals with relevant expertise rather than administrative staff. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 5215: The Veterans Affairs Purchase Card Misuse Mitigation Act
The Veterans Affairs Purchase Card Misuse Mitigation Act, introduced by O&I Chairman Jack Bergman, would mitigate the potential for misuse of purchase card spending by requiring the VA Secretary to revoke the purchase card from any employee who is found to have knowingly misused their card or approval authority. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 5044: The Service-Disabled Veterans Small Business Continuation Act
The Service-Disabled Veterans Small Business Continuation Act, introduced by Rep. Steve Chabot, addresses conflicting language in prior laws to ensure that surviving spouses of less than 100% service-disabled veteran small business owners can retain their priority for three years following the servicemember’s death, protecting widows and widowers from potentially catastrophic disruptions to their businesses during one of the most difficult times in their lives. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 4830: The Servicemembers Improved Transition through Reforms for Ensuring Progress (SIT-REP) Act
The SIT-REP Act, introduced by Rep. Gus Bilirakis, would require that in order to remain eligible for GI Bill benefits, a school must adopt a policy that prohibits the school from penalizing students for late payments from VA. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 4451: The Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act of 2017
The Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program Improvement Act, introduced by Health Chairman Brad Wenstrup, would clarify that eligible veterans who are homeless and participating in the HUD-VASH voucher program, those who are transitioning from being incarcerated, and other eligible homeless or recently homeless veterans are still eligible for training services under services HVRP. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
HR 4334: The Improving Oversight of Women Veterans’ Care Act of 2017
The Improving Oversight of Women Veterans’ Care Act of 2017, introduced by Rep. Luis Correa, would require VA to submit an annual report to Congress on access to gender-specific services (defined as mammograms, maternity care, and gynecological care) for women veterans under community care networks. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 4245: The Veterans’ Electronic Health Record Modernization Oversight Act of 2017
The Veterans' Electronic Health Record Modernization Oversight Act of 2017, introduced by Chairman Roe, Ranking Member Walz, and O&I Chairman Jack Bergman and Ranking Member Annie Kuster would direct VA to provide Congress with the project’s key planning and implementation documents, in addition to copies of the contracts, to indicate the effort’s progress and how the money is being spent. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3832: The Veterans Opioid Abuse Prevention Act
The Veterans Opioid Abuse Prevention Act, introduced by Rep. Neal Dunn, would require VA to enter into an agreement with the executive director of national network of state-based prescription monitoring programs to allow VA to monitor drug prescriptions written in those participating states. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3642: Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment (SAVE) Act
The Military SAVE Act, introduced by Rep. Andy Barr, would require VA to carry out a three-year pilot program to furnish care at community facilities to veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1972: The VA Billing Accountability Act
The VA billing Accountability Act, introduced by Rep. Lloyd Smucker, would authorize VA to waive the requirement that a veteran make copayments for medications, hospital care, nursing home care and medical services if a VA error delayed copayment notification to the veteran or the veteran received such notification later than 120 days after the date the veteran received the care or services. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 4335: Servicemember Family Burial Act
The Servicemember Family Burial Act, introduced by Rep. Luis Correa, would allow the spouses and eligible dependents of active-duty servicemembers who predecease the servicemember to be interred in a national cemetery. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 4173: The Veterans Crisis Line Study Act of 2017
The Veterans Crisis Line Study Act of 2017, introduced by Rep. Jim Banks, would require VA to conduct a study on the outcomes and efficacy of the Veterans Crisis Line based on an analysis of national suicide data and data collected from the VCL. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3705: Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act
The Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act, introduced by Rep. Chellie Pingree, would also instruct VA to use plain language in its debt notices to provide a clear explanation of why VA is alleging that the veteran owes such a debt. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3657: To expand authority to provide headstones and markers to eligible spouses and dependents in tribal veterans cemeteries
H.R. 3657, introduced by Rep. Bruce Poliquin, would authorize VA to provide headstones and markers to eligible spouses and dependents who are buried or interred at tribal veterans cemeteries. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3634: The Securing Electronic Records for Veterans Ease (SERVE) Act of 2017
The SERVE Act of 2017, introduced by Rep. Jim Himes, would make BAH documentation available online to all veterans, which would help confirm a veteran’s monthly housing stipend and simplify their home or apartment rental process. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3262: Grow Our Own Directive: Physician Assistant Employment and Education Act
The Grow Our Own Directive: Physician Assistant Employment and Education Act, introduced by Rep. Kuster, would direct VA to carry out the Grow Our Own Directive or G.O.O.D. pilot program to provide educational assistance to certain former members of the Armed Forces with medical or military health experience for education and training as VA physician assistants. Click here for more information.
H.R. 2781: Ensuring Veteran Enterprise Participation in Strategic Sourcing Act
The Ensuring Veteran Enterprise Participation in Strategic Sourcing Act, introduced by Rep. Dunn, directs VA to work with GSA to increase the number of Service-Disabled Veteran and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses represented on the contracts, or else stop using the contracts, thereby closing the loophole that is denying veterans the opportunities the Supreme Court ruled they are entitled to in Kingdomware. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 2749: The Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2017
The Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2017, introduced by Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Jack Bergman and Ranking Member Anne Kuster, would require participants in the Vets First Program to certify that they are performing the required percentage of work and directs VA to refer suspected violators to the Office of the Inspector General for investigation. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 2601: Veterans Increased Choice for Transplanted Organs and Recovery (VICTOR) Act
The Veterans Increased Choice for Transplanted Organs and Recovery (VICTOR) Act, introduced by Rep. Neal Dunn, would enable veterans who aren’t able to access care at a VA transplant center to seek care at a community transplant facility. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 2123: Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support Act of 2017 (VETS) Act
The VETS Act, introduced by Rep. Glenn Thompson, would give the VA Secretary the legislative authority to allow VA providers to practice telemedicine across state lines. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 2006: The VA Procurement Efficiency and Transparency Act
The VA Procurement Efficiency and Transparency Act, introduced by Rep. Mike Coffman, would encourage efficiency and transparency in VA’s procurement processes by mandating high level parameters for how the department calculates its savings from encouraging competition when awarding procurement contracts. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1848: Veterans Affairs Medical Scribe Pilot Act of 2017
The Veterans Affairs Medical Scribe Pilot Act of 2017, introduced by Chairman Phil Roe, M.D., would create a two-year medical scribes pilot program within VA. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1690: The Department of Veterans Affairs Bonus Transparency Act
The Department of Veterans Affairs Bonus Transparency Act, introduced by Rep. Tenney, would enhance the transparency of high-dollar bonuses being provided to senior executives at VA by requiring VA submit an annual report to Congress on senior VA leadership bonus awards. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1367: "To improve the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire and retain physicians and other employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes"
This legislation, introduced by Health Chairman Brad Wenstrup, would establish a recruiting database to make high-quality potential employees aware of positions at VA and create opportunities for career training and advancement for current VA employees through fellowship positions and a promotional track for technical experts. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1259: The VA Accountability First Act of 2017
The VA Accountability First Act of 2017, introduced by Chairman Phil Roe, M.D., would provide the VA Secretary increased flexibility to remove, demote, or suspend any VA employee, including Senior Executive Service employees, for performance or misconduct. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1181: Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act
The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, introduced by Chairman Phil Roe, M.D., would prohibit VA from considering any beneficiary who is assisted by a fiduciary as “mentally defective” without a magistrate or judicial authority ruling that the beneficiary is a danger to themselves or others. Click here for more information. Read the bill here. This legislation passed the House with bipartisan support on March 16, 2017, and is supported by the National Disability Rights Network and the National Rifle Association.
H.R. 1162: The No Hero Left Untreated Act
The No Hero Left Untreated Act, introduced by Rep. Stephen Knight, would require VA to carry out a one-year pilot program at up to two VA medical facilities to provide access to magnetic EEG/EKG-guided resonance therapy to veterans with PTSD, TBI, MST, chronic pain or opiate addiction for up to 50 veterans. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1133: Veterans Transplant Coverage Act
The Veterans Transplant Coverage Act, introduced by Rep. John Carter, would authorize VA to provide all care and services needed for a veteran to receive an organ transplant from a live donor, regardless of whether the donor is eligible for VA health care or whether the health care facility is part of the VA. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1066: The VA Management Alignment Act of 2017
The VA Management Alignment Act of 2017, introduced by Rep. Derek Kilmer, would require VA to submit a report regarding the roles, responsibility, and accountability of elements and individuals of VA, using the findings of the Independent Assessment, the Commission on Care, and relevant GAO reports as resources. Click here for more information. Read the bill here
H.R. 1058: The VA Provider Equity Act
The VA Provider Equity Act, Introduced by Rep. Wenstrup, would make podiatrists equal to their physician peers in terms of pay and eligibility for promotion and leadership positions. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 974: Boosting Rates of American Veteran Employment (BRAVE) Act
The BRAVE Act, introduced by Rep. Kathleen Rice, is designed to boost veteran employment by allowing VA to give preference when awarding procurement contracts to government contractors who employ veterans on a fulltime basis Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 918: The Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act
The Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act, introduced by Rep. Coffman, would require VA to provide an initial mental health assessment and any subsequent mental health services required to meet urgent mental health care needs to former service members who would otherwise be ineligible for such services because they were discharged from military service under OTH conditions. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 512: WINGMAN Act
The WINGMAN Act, introduced by Rep. Ted Yoho, allows designated permanent, full time Congressional staffers to look up the status of a veteran's claim on VA’s database - but only if the veteran has given the staffer permission. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 467: The VA Scheduling Accountability Act
The VA Scheduling Accountability Act, introduced by Rep. Jackie Walorski, would require VA medical center directors to certify annually that their facility is in compliance with the scheduling directive (or any successor directive that replaces it), prohibit VA from waiving certification, and require VA to report to Congress on individual medical facilities’ compliance. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 282: The Military Residency Choice Act
The Military Residency Choice Act, introduced by Rep. Stefanik, would amend the Service members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to permit the spouse of a service member to elect to use the same residence as the service member for purposes of taxation and voting, regardless of the date that they were married. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 95: Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act
The Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act, introduced by Rep. Brownley, requires VA to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing child care services for veterans receiving mental health services and other intensive health care services. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 28: The Biological Implant Tracking and Veterans Safety Act
The Biological Implant Tracking and Veterans Safety Act, introduced by Chairman Phil Roe, M.D., directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to adopt the FDA’s unique device identification system (UDI) for labeling of all biological implants and to implement an automated inventory system to ensure veterans do not receive expired or otherwise contaminated tissue. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 27: The Ensuring VA Employee Accountability Act
The Ensuring VA Employee Accountability Act, introduced by Rep. Ryan Costello, would require all reprimands and admonishments given to VA employees to remain in their file for as long as they are employed by the department. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 2147: The Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act
The Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act, introduced by Rep. Mike Coffman, would require VA to hire and place at least 50 Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists and ensure that each one serves as part of a justice team in a veterans treatment court or other veteran-focused court. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 4635: To direct the secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of peer-to-peer counselors providing counseling for women veterans
H.R. 4635, introduced by Rep. Mike Coffman, would require VA to ensure that the department’s peer counseling program includes a sufficient number of peer counselors for women veterans with expertise in gender-specific issues, VA services and benefits and employment mentoring. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 2409: To Allow Certain Servicemembers to Terminate Their Cable, Satellite Television and Internet Access Service Contracts While Deployed
H.R. 2409, introduced by Rep. Ryan Costello, would extended existing federal protections to cable and satellite television services under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Under this legislation, servicemembers would only need to provide notice and a copy of their active duty orders to cable and satellite providers to terminate their contracts without penalty. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 2787: The VET MD Act
The VET MD Act, introduced by Rep. Marcy Kaptur, would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a threeyear pilot program beginning no later than August 15, 2020, in at least five regionally diverse VA medical centers to provide undergraduate students a clinical observation experience within VA. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 5538: The Reserve Component Vocational Rehabilitation Parity Act
The Reserve Component Vocational Rehabilitation Parity Act, introduced by Rep. Scott Peters, would add eligibility for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) for active service under certain reserve orders. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 5649: The Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William "Bill" Mulder (Ret.) Transition Improvement Act of 2018
The Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William "Bill" Mulder (Ret.) Transition Improvement Act of 2018, introduced by Rep. Jodey Arrington, would make improvements to the Transition Assistance Program and the overall transition process for servicemembers to include more of a focus on career opportunities and entrepreneurship. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 5882: The Gold Star Spouses Leasing Relief Act
The Gold Star Leasing Relief Act, introduced by Rep. Cheri Bustos, would allow surviving spouses to terminate residential leases at the time of a servicemember's death without penalty. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 5938: the Veterans Serving Veterans Act of 2018
The Veterans Serving Veterans Act, introduced by Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, (1) require VA to identify the MOSs that correlate with open positions within VA, to coordinate with DoD to identify soon-to-be-separated servicemembers and to add those servicemembers’ MOSs and contact information to VA’s recruiting database with an opt-out option; (2) require VA to implement a program to recruit, train and certify former military medics as ICTs to work at VA medical facilities. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 5974, the Department of Veterans Affairs Creation of On-Site Treatment Systems Affording Veterans Improvements and Numerous General Safety Enhancements (VA COST SAVINGS) Act
The VA Cost Savings Act, introduced by Rep. Jeff Denham, would (1) require VA to identify VA facilities that would benefit from cost savings associated with the use of an on-site regulated medical waste treatment system over a five year period; (2) require VA to develop a uniform, regulated medical waste cost analysis model to be used to determine the cost savings associated with the use of an on-site regulated medical waste treatment system; (3) ensure that, at each VA facility identified as a facility that would benefit from an on-site regulated medical waste treatment system, these systems are purchased pursuant to the purchase agreement known as the “VHA Regulated Medical Waste On-Site Treatment Equipment Systems Blanket Purchase Agreement.” Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 299: Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017
The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017, introduced by Rep. David Valadao, would extend the presumption of exposure to Agent Orange to veterans who served in the Blue Water Navy. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
Passed Committee
The VA Care in the Community Act, introduced by Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz, would consolidate VA’s existing community care programs into one cohesive program and would modernize VA’s medical claims processing system to ensure that community providers can expect to be paid on time for the care they provide to veterans on VA’s behalf. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1662: Legislation to Prohibit Smoking in Any VHA Facility
H.R. 1662, introduced by Health Chairman Brad Wenstrup, would prohibit smoking in any VHA facility. Under this legislation, smoking would be banned inside VHA facilities immediately and outside VHA facilities within five years. Click herefor more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3561: To amend title 38, United States Code, to permit appraisers approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make appraisals for purposes of chapter 37 of such title based on inspections performed by third parties
H.R. 3561, introduced by EO Chairman Jodey Arrington and Ranking Member Beto O'Rourke, would give VA-designated appraisers the ability to rely solely on information from approved third parties, such as a desktop appraisal, when determining a home’s value for a VA home loan. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1461, as amended: Veterans, Employees and Taxpayer (VET) Protection Act
Veterans, Employees and Taxpayer (VET) Protection Act, introduced by EO Chairman Jodey Arrington, would require VA to track the use of official time and prohibit employees involved with direct patient care from spending more than 25% of their time on union activities and any VA employee from spending more than 50% of their time on union activities. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 91: The Building Supportive Networks for Women Veterans Act
The Building Supportive Networks for Women Veterans Act, introduced by Rep. Julia Brownley, would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a permanent program to provide reintegration and readjustment services in group retreat settings to women veterans newly separated from service in the Armed Forces after a prolonged deployment. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 6066: To Improve the Productivity of the Management of Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care
H.R. 6066, introduced by Rep. Brad Wenstrup, would (1) require VA to track RVUs for all providers and to ensure that all providers attend training on clinical procedure coding; (2) require VA to establish RVU-based performance standards to evaluate clinical productivity at the provider and facility level and remediation plans to address low clinical productivity and inefficiency; (3) require VA to report to Congress on the implementation of the bill. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 4243:The Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Act of 2017
The AIR Act of 2017, introduced by Chairman Roe, would require VA to develop criteria to assess and recommend changes to VA medical facilities and would establish a commission to review VA’s recommendations, conduct public hearings, and report the Commission’s findings for the modernization and realignment of VA medical facilities to the president and, if approved, Congress. Click here for more information. Read the bill here. Note: this legislation was signed into law as part of the VA MISSION Act.
Introduced
H.R. 5644: The Veterans’ Education, Transition, and Opportunity Prioritization Plan (VET OPP) Act of 2018
The VET OPP Act would realign the transition, education and employment programs at VA under one roof to streamline services to veterans and place a greater priority on opportunity-based programs within VA. Click here for more information. Read the bill here. Note: this legislation passed the House as part of H.R. 5693, the Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act.
H.R. 1379: "To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the entitlement to educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs for members of the Armed Forces awarded the Purple Heart."
Read the bill here.
H.R. 4835: The Job Training through Off-Base Opportunities and Local Support Act
The Job TOOLS for Veterans Act, introduced by Rep. Elizabeth Esty, would re-authorize the off-base TAP pilot that required the Department of Labor to offer the employment workshop portion of TAP to veterans outside of military installations. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
The Veterans Armed for Success Act, introduced by Rep. John Rutherford, would require the VA Secretary to provide grants to eligible third-party organizations to offer additional transition and employment assistance services to recently separated veterans. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3940: The Veterans Education Disaster Assistance Act
The Veterans Education Disaster Assistance Act, introduced by Rep. Ted Poe, would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to issue additional housing stipends and supply fee payment waivers to individuals that are forced to enroll in a distance education due to a natural disaster. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3169: The VA Acquisition Workforce Improvement and Streamlining Act
The VA Acquisition Workforce Improvement and Streamlining Act, introduced by Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Jack Bergman and Ranking Member Anne Kuster, as well as Rep. Bruce Poliquin, would require VA to create career certification programs for construction and logistics employees and would extend VA’s career certification for contracting officers to VA’s logistics workers and construction managers as well. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3023: To amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay reporting fees to educational institutions
H.R. 3023, introduced by Rep. Steve Russell, would amend Title 38 of the United States Code to eliminate the authority of the VA Secretary to pay reporting fees to educational institutions that accept GI Bill funding. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3018: Veterans’ Entry to Apprenticeship Act
The Veterans’ Entry to Apprenticeship Act, introduced by Rep. Martha McSally, would allow veterans eligible for the post-9/11 GI Bill to participate in preapprenticeship programs so long as they meet the standards set forth by their state and Registered Apprenticeship programs. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 2773: To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to sell Pershing Hall
H.R. 2773, introduced by Rep. Mike Coffman, would amend the Veterans' Benefits Programs Improvement Act of 1991 to direct VA to sell Pershing Hall, in Paris, France, for fair market value, on the condition that the purchaser agrees to preserve its interior and exterior architectural details. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1943: The Restoring Maximum Mobility to Our Nation’s Veterans Act of 2017
The restoring Maximum Mobility to Our Nation’s Veterans Act of 2017, introduced by Rep. Steve King, would direct VA to ensure that each wheelchair furnished to a veteran due to a service-connected disability restores the maximum achievable mobility and function in the activities of daily life, employment and recreation. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1564: The VA Beneficiary Travel Act of 2017
The VA Beneficiary Travel Act of 2017, introduced by Rep. Jack Bergman, would clarify that VA is authorized to use mandatory funds to pay the cost of beneficiary travel for contract examinations. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1390: To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay costs relating to the transportation of certain deceased veterans to veterans' cemeteries owned by a State or tribal organization.
H.R. 1390, introduced by Rep. Jim Banks, would expand the VA Secretary’s authority to pay for transportation costs if the families choose to have deceased veterans buried in a national cemetery, state veterans cemetery or tribal veterans cemetery. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1328: The American Heroes COLA Act of 2017
The Veterans' Compensation COLA Act of 2017, introduced by DAMA Chairman Mike Bost and Ranking Member Elizabeth Esty, would ensure that whenever Social Security recipients receive a COLA, the VA Secretary is authorized to provide an automatic cost-of-living adjustment for compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1206: Reducing Barriers for Veterans Education Act of 2017
The Reducing Barriers for Veterans Education Act of 2017, introduced by Rep. Luke Messer, would enable eligible individuals to use a portion of their education benefits to cover up to $750 of application fees to institutions of higher learning. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 1063: The Veteran Prescription Continuity Act
The Veteran Prescription Continuity Act, introduced by Rep. Beto O’Rourke, would enable VA to furnish a pharmaceutical agent not included in the joint uniform formulary to an individual transitioning from DoD to VA, if a DoD health care provider determines it is necessary for the service member’s transition. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 888: To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain totally disabled veterans.
H.R. 888, introduced by Rep. Walter Jones Jr., would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to treat the notification of the death of a veteran rated totally disabled as a claim for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) benefits for the veteran’s surviving spouse and children. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
HR 815: To amend title 38, United States Code, to adjust certain limits on the guaranteed amount of a home loan under the home loan program of the Department of Veterans Affairs
H.R. 815, introduced by Rep. Lee Zeldin, would add additional benefit to the Home Loan Guarantee by allowing the VA to guarantee up to 25% of any loan over $144,000. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 501: The VA Transparency Enhancement Act of 2017
The VA Transparency Enhancement Act of 2017, introduced by Rep. Debbie Dingell, would require each VA medical center director to publish the number of patients who contracted an infection due to surgery, including a brief summary of each case, on its website every quarter. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 5452: Reducing Unemployment for Veterans of All Ages Act
The Reducing Unemployment for Veterans of All Ages Act, introduced by Rep. Julia Brownley, would eliminate the current 12 year delimiting date to use VR&E benefits. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 3696: The Wounded Warrior Workforce Enhancement Act
The Wounded Warrior Workforce Enhancement Act, introduced by Rep. Matt Cartwright, would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award grants to eligible institutions to: (1) establish a master's degree program in orthotics and prosthetics or expand upon an existing master's degree program in such area, and (2) establish the Center of Excellence in Orthotic and Prosthetic Education to improve outcomes by conducting research. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 5521: The VA Hiring Enhancement Act
The VA Hiring Enhancement Act, introduced by Rep. Vicky Hartzler, would (1) negate the enforcement of a non-compete agreement that prevents a physician from working at a VA facility; and (2) require a physician to have successfully completed residency training prior to being appointed to a position at a VA facility but authorize VA to offer contingent appointments to physicians in training, pending completion of residency training, for a period of time up to two years prior to the completion of that training. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 4312: The Fallen Warrior Battlefield Memorial Cross Act
The Fallen Warrior Battlefield Cross Memorial Act, introduced by Rep. James Renacci, would amend Title 38 in the United States Code so that VA may not prohibit Battlefield Crosses at any national cemetery. This legislation allows for servicemembers to be remembered in the way that they see fit. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 6409: Honoring Veterans’ Families Act
The Honoring Veterans’ Families Act, introduced by Rep. Doug LaMalfa, would authorize VA to replace VA headstones or markers in private cemeteries so that they include the inscription of the surviving spouses and the dependent children. It would apply to veterans who die on or after January 1, 2014. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 5413: Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act of 2018
The Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act of 2018, introduced by Rep. Brian Mast, would allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit members of Congress to use the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) facilities for constituent meetings and related purposes. H.R. 5413 would help members of Congress improve their availability and better serve their constituents. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 6420: To permit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program to conduct cemetery research and produce educational materials for the Veterans Legacy Program
H.R. 6420, introduced by Rep. Conor Lamb, would permit the Secretary of the VA to establish a grant program, which would help fund cemetery research as well as produce educational materials for the Veterans Legacy Program (VLP). This would further enable VLP to carry out its mission and continue to educate others about veterans. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 6418: VA Website Accessibility Act of 2018
The VA Website Accessibility Act of 2018, introduced by Rep. Elizabeth Esty, would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to all Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) websites. The Secretary would need to check that all aspects of VA’s website, including attached files and web-based applications, are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
H.R. 7169: VA-SBA Act
H.R. 7169, introduced by Rep. Trent Kelly, would would institute an affirmative certification requirement for SDVOSBs throughout the federal government. This legislation would also transfer responsibility for certification from VA to SBA, thus aligning it with all other small business contracting programs. Additionally, it would guarantee that no self-certified SDVOSB would be excluded from a contracting opportunity if SBA was too slow to decide its certification application, and it would preserve the unique Veteran Owned Small Business contracting preference in VA. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.
Note: For a comprehensive list of all bills referred to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, please click here.
