Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act

Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act 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.

Fiscal Year 2025 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act

Fiscal Year 2025 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out a major medical facility project in St. Louis, Missouri, during FY2026. The bill specifies the maximum amount that may be spent on the project and details that the project consists of the construction of a new bed tower, clinical building expansion, consolidated administrative building and warehouse, utility plant, and parking garages.

Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026

Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026 This bill expands specified benefits programs for veterans and their survivors and establishes a supplemental monthly allowance for certain disabled veterans. The bill establishes a supplemental monthly allowance of $833.33 for veterans who are already eligible for a monthly aid and attendance allowance due to service-connected disabilities or traumatic brain injury. The bill increases the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) by an additional 1% the next time DIC is adjusted for cost of living and an additional 0.5% the following adjustment. DIC is a monthly payment made to eligible survivors of (1) certain veterans who died due to a service-connected condition; (2) service members killed in the line of duty; or (3) veterans who were totally disabled by a service-connected disability for a certain period. The bill expands eligibility for loans under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan program to certain members of the reserve components and National Guard by expanding what qualifies as active duty. The bill includes annual training duty as qualifying active duty and grants eligibility for VA loan guarantees after 14 days of active-duty service (with an additional fee). Under the VA home loan program, the bill extends certain loan fee rates through September 30, 2036, and increases the fees for certain refinancing loans and loan assumptions. The bill extends the limitation on pension amounts for certain hospitalized or institutionalized veterans through September 30, 2036.

A bill to reinstate criminal penalties for persons charging veterans unauthorized fees relating to claims for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

The bill would make it a crime for people to charge veterans illegal fees when helping them apply for Veterans Affairs benefits, with penalties including fines and potential jail time. This protects veterans from scammers and unscrupulous representatives who might try to profit by charging them money to file benefit claims they're entitled to. The measure targets fraud and exploitation targeting military veterans seeking healthcare, disability payments, and other VA benefits they've earned.

Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act of 2025

Veterans' Transition to Trucking Act of 2025 This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to act as a state approving agency to approve multi-state apprenticeship programs (i.e., non-federal apprenticeship programs operating in more than one state) for purposes of VA educational assistance benefits. (State approving agencies are designated by states to provide, among other duties, approval of courses of education for purposes of VA education benefits.)

Fisher House Availability Act of 2026

Fisher House Availability Act of 2026 This bill expands eligibility for temporary lodging at a Fisher House to additional individuals receiving medical care or treatment at a Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) or non-VA facility or those accompanying individuals receiving such treatment. (Fisher Houses are where the VA furnishes no-cost lodging to veterans and other eligible individuals when receiving treatment or accompanying an individual receiving treatment.) Specifically, the bill authorizes the VA to provide lodging at a Fisher House on a space-available basis to members of the uniformed services performing active duty (i.e., covered beneficiaries) who must travel a significant distance to receive care or services; family members and others accompanying such covered beneficiaries to receive care or services; veterans, members of a veteran's family, and others who must travel a significant distance for a member of a veteran's family to receive care or services; and covered beneficiaries, members of a covered beneficiary’s family, and others who must travel a significant distance for a member of a beneficiary’s family to receive care or services. Finally, the bill extends the limitation on pension amounts for certain hospitalized or institutionalized veterans through July 31, 2033.

Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act

Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement an electronic process for scheduling health care appointments furnished by the VA or through the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) and extends an existing limitation on certain pensions. Under the bill, the VA must implement the electronic process not later than two years after the enactment of this bill. The VA must implement a mandatory training program for VA schedulers or other employees involved in scheduling appointments regarding guidelines for the implementation of the electronic process. Additionally, the VA must prescribe performance benchmarks and outcome-based metrics for the electronic process. The VA must also implement an outreach strategy to encourage non-VA health care providers participating in the VCCP to participate in the electronic process. Under current law, the pension paid to veterans who reside in Medicaid nursing homes and have no spouse or child is limited to $90 a month through January 31, 2033. The bill extends this limitation through June 30, 2033.

Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2026

The bill would expand educational benefits for veterans to include training programs in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and renewable energy. Veterans would have greater flexibility in using their education benefits to pursue these in-demand fields through various training providers, not just traditional colleges. This aims to help veterans develop skills for modern job markets and improve their employment prospects after military service.

Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2026

Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2026 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase the amounts payable for wartime disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Specifically, the VA must increase the amounts by the same percentage as the cost-of-living increase in benefits for Social Security recipients that is effective on December 1, 2026. The act requires the VA to publish the amounts payable, as increased, in the Federal Register. The VA is authorized to make a similar adjustment to the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who have not received compensation for service-connected disability or death.

Disabled Veterans Dignity Act of 2026

The legislation would improve benefits and services for veterans with disabilities, ensuring they receive dignified treatment and support from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill addresses how disabled veterans access healthcare, mental health services, and financial assistance, with the goal of reducing bureaucratic barriers and improving their overall quality of life. Veterans' Affairs Committee members have already held hearings to examine the bill's proposals.

Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2025

Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2025 This bill extends increased dependency and indemnity compensation to the surviving spouse of a veteran whom the Department of Veterans Affairs has determined died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) regardless of how long the veteran had such disease prior to death. Under current law, such compensation is paid for a service-connected disability that was rated totally disabling for a continuous period of at least eight years immediately preceding death. Under the bill, such extension of increased compensation applies retroactively to veterans who died from ALS on or after October 1, 2022.

Women Veterans Specialty Care Access Act

This bill would expand healthcare services available to women veterans by requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve access to specialty care services tailored to women's health needs. The legislation aims to address gaps in medical services for female veterans, such as reproductive health, gynecological care, and other gender-specific treatments that may be harder to find at VA facilities. Women veterans would benefit from better availability of these specialized services either through VA providers or partnerships with private healthcare networks.

Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act 2.0

The legislation would overhaul how veterans appeal decisions about their benefits and disability claims by streamlining the appeals process and giving the Department of Veterans Affairs new tools to resolve disputes faster. Veterans would have clearer timelines for their appeals and more options for how to present their cases, potentially reducing the years-long waits many currently face when challenging denied benefits. The changes aim to make it easier for veterans to get the benefits they've earned while reducing the backlog of pending cases at the VA.

Health Care for Homeless Veterans Act

This bill would improve access to health care services for veterans experiencing homelessness by expanding VA medical facilities and programs that serve this vulnerable population. It likely aims to address gaps in mental health treatment, substance abuse services, and housing-related medical care that homeless veterans often struggle to obtain. The changes would affect both the Department of Veterans Affairs and the homeless veteran population seeking better coordinated health services.

Thomas M. Conway Veterans Access to Resources in the Workplace Act

The legislation would require employers to provide veterans with information about and access to resources that help them transition to civilian jobs, manage service-related health issues, and connect with support services. This would affect both veterans entering the workforce and the companies that hire them, ensuring that employers play a role in helping former military members successfully adjust to civilian employment. The bill aims to bridge the gap between military service and civilian career success by making workplace support more readily available.

Veteran Burial Benefit Correction Act

This bill would fix how the Department of Veterans Affairs calculates burial benefits for veterans, likely addressing issues where some veterans or their families receive incorrect payment amounts or are denied benefits they should qualify for. The changes would ensure that eligible veterans and their dependents get the proper financial assistance for funeral and burial expenses that they've earned through their military service.

Veterans Affairs Peer Review Neutrality Act of 2025

The bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to use neutral, independent reviewers when evaluating complaints about VA medical care and decisions, rather than allowing VA staff members to review their own colleagues' work. This change aims to make the appeals process fairer for veterans who believe they received poor treatment or made incorrect benefit decisions. Veterans seeking to challenge VA decisions would benefit from having outside experts examine their cases instead of internal VA personnel.

Reducing Arbitrary Barriers to Apprenticeship Act of 2026

This bill would remove unnecessary requirements that prevent military veterans and service members from entering apprenticeship programs, making it easier for them to transition to civilian careers in skilled trades. The legislation aims to streamline credential recognition and reduce red tape so that veterans can quickly start apprenticeships in fields like construction, manufacturing, and electrical work without having to repeat training they've already completed in the military. Veterans and employers in skilled trades would be the main beneficiaries, as this could speed up hiring and reduce barriers to good-paying jobs for people leaving the armed forces.

Stuck On Hold Act

Stuck On Hold Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement automated systems for their customer phone lines that inform callers of the expected wait time and that offer callbacks for wait times of more than 10 minutes. The VA must also issue guidance to reduce the average wait time to no more than 10 minutes.

Veterans STAND Act

The Veterans STAND Act aims to improve support and services for military veterans, likely by expanding access to healthcare, mental health services, job training, or other benefits that help veterans transition to civilian life. The bill would affect millions of veterans and their families who rely on federal programs to address service-related injuries, disabilities, and other needs. The specific provisions would be determined as the bill moves through the Veterans' Affairs Committee.