H.R. 9237

Take Care of America’s Veterans Act

Sponsor: Mike Bost

30 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Take Care of America's Veterans Act

This bill addresses veterans’ benefits, health care, counseling, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) personnel, VA infrastructure, and the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP).

The bill modifies various compensation programs for veterans, including by (1) allowing concurrent receipt of disability compensation and military retired pay for certain retirees with a combat-related disability, (2) extending entitlement for various benefits and services to remarried surviving spouses, (3) increasing the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation, and (4) establishing a supplemental monthly allowance for certain disabled veterans.

The bill also addresses VA education and training benefits, including by (1) modifying which independent study programs are covered under veterans’ educational assistance benefits, (2) requiring Transition Assistance Program counseling to include a presentation about VA benefits, and (3) increasing the housing allowance rate for individuals pursuing apprenticeships.

The bill revises health care provisions, including by (1) expanding support and assistance provided to family caregivers, (2) extending the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, and (3) expanding the scope of VA mental health research.

Among other elements, the bill

  • revises VA disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus;
  • expands eligibility for a memorial headstone or marker for the spouse, surviving spouse, child, or dependent of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces;
  • addresses the administration of the VCCP and codifies the eligibility standards;
  • establishes a standardized screening process for priority or routine admission to certain mental health care programs; and
  • addresses VA personnel, hiring, and infrastructure matters.

Text of the bill

Expand all

I Compensation

II Education and Economic Opportunity

III Health Care

Sec. 331. Authorization of major medical facility project of Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2027 in Manchester, New Hampshire

(a) Authorization of major medical facility project of Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2027 in Manchester, New Hampshire

(1) In general. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a major medical facility project for the replacement of a medical center, a new central utility plant, a community living center, a residential rehabilitation treatment facility, associated parking, and demolition of existing buildings in Manchester, New Hampshire.

(2) Non-Department Federal entity waiver. In order to reduce cost and expedite timelines, the Secretary may waive the requirements under section 8103(e) of title 38, United States Code, and section 1096 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 38 U.S.C. 8103 note) for a non-Department Federal entity to be engaged in project management and other activities for the project under paragraph (1).

(3) Notification. Not later than 60 days after making a waiver, modification, or substitution relating to the project under subsection (a), including a waiver under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a notification describing the waiver, modification, or substitution and the reason for such waiver, modification, or substitution.

(4) Authorization of appropriations. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the Construction, Major Projects account $1,180,000,000 for the project under paragraph (1), to remain available until expended.

(5) Appropriate committees of Congress defined. In this section the term appropriate committees of Congress means—

(A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and

(B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

(b) Access to information for medical facility construction projects and leases

(1) In general. Subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 8106 the following:

Text this section adds to the law

8107. Access to information for medical facility construction projects and leases

(a) In general. For any major construction project, lease, or enhanced-use lease for a medical facility of the Department, the Secretary shall ensure that the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives are provided timely access to all information, records, documents, data, analyses, communications, contracts, agreements, project schedules, cost estimates, memoranda, briefings, reports, and other materials relating to the project or lease.

(b) Prohibition on withholding information. The Secretary may not withhold information under subsection (a) from the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives solely on the basis that the information is predecisional, deliberative, advisory, procurement-sensitive, or subject to an internal policy or directive of the Department.

(2) Clerical amendment. The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 8106 the following new item:

Text this section adds to the law

8107. Access to information for medical facility construction projects and leases.

IV Organization

V Memorial Affairs

VI Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers

A Improvement of Veterans Community Care Program

B Mental Health Treatment Programs

C Staffing Matters

D Optimization of Workforce

E Veterans Infrastructure and Transformation

F Other Health Care Matters