Armed Forces and National Security Desk
Armed Forces and National Security Bills
11 bills in the Armed Forces and National Security desk, ordered for current relevance and readability.
Armed Forces and National SecurityHR-210-119Latest action: Mar 18, 20264 readersIn Committee
Dental Care for Veterans Act
Sponsored by Julia Brownley
Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs provides dental care only to veterans with service-connected dental conditions, those with significant service-connected disabilities, former prisoners of war, and veterans receiving care for a service-connected condition that affects their ability to chew or swallow. This limited eligibility means most veterans must pay out-of-pocket for routine dental services or seek care through private insurance. The VA's dental program operates under separate statutory authority from other medical services, creating a two-tiered system where dental care is treated differently than primary care, surgery, or other treatments veterans receive at VA facilities. The Department of Veterans Affairs must amend its regulations to furnish dental care to all eligible veterans in the same manner as any other medical service covered under chapter 17 of title 38. The bill removes the statutory restrictions that currently limit dental eligibility and eliminates section 2062, which previously authorized separate dental benefit rules. This change reclassifies dental care as a standard VA medical benefit rather than a specialized service with restricted access. The VA will no longer distinguish between dental and other medical services when determining which veterans qualify for coverage. The expansion phases in over four years to manage implementation. Veterans already eligible for VA dental care begin immediately. Veterans in priority groups 1 and 2 gain access one year after enactment; groups 3 and 4 after two years; groups 5 and 6 after three years; and groups 7 and 8 after four years. The bill does not specify new funding but directs the VA to absorb dental services into its existing medical budget. This phased approach allows the VA to scale up dental infrastructure—hiring providers, expanding clinics, and purchasing equipment—without overwhelming existing capacity.
Armed Forces and National Security
Latest updateFeb 6, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Armed Forces and National Security
Armed Forces and National SecurityHR-39-119Latest action: Dec 19, 20253 readersIn Committee
Original Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2025
Sponsored by Al Green
World War II merchant mariners who served on vessels operated by the War Shipping Administration or Office of Defense Transportation have historically received different federal benefits than military service members. While some merchant mariners qualified for benefits under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (the GI Bill), many others did not receive equivalent recognition or compensation for their wartime service. This gap has persisted for decades, leaving certain merchant mariners without the financial support provided to other veterans who served during the same period. The Department of Veterans Affairs must establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund and make one-time payments of $25,000 to eligible individuals. To qualify, applicants must have served between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, as crewmembers on vessels operated by the War Shipping Administration or Office of Defense Transportation in ocean waters (excluding inland waterways and Great Lakes), under contract to the U.S. government and serving the Armed Forces. Applicants must also demonstrate they did not previously receive GI Bill benefits and must apply within one year of the law's enactment. The VA may accept DD-214 forms as proof of service. Congress authorizes $125 million for the compensation fund in fiscal year 2026, with funds remaining available until fully expended. The VA will process applications in the order received and must report annually to Congress on the fund's operation, including the number of applicants, eligible recipients, amounts distributed, and projections for full funding. The Secretary must issue implementing regulations within 180 days of enactment. Depending on application volume, the $125 million appropriation may cover all eligible individuals or require supplemental funding in subsequent years.
Armed Forces and National Security
Latest updateDec 19, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Armed Forces and National Security
Armed Forces and National SecurityHR-109-119Latest action: Dec 19, 20252 readersIn Committee
TEAM Veteran Caregivers Act
Sponsored by Andy Biggs
The Department of Veterans Affairs currently administers two caregiver support programs under federal law: the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers and the Program of Support Services for Caregivers. However, the department has faced criticism for inconsistent practices in recognizing caregivers, communicating eligibility decisions, and managing transitions when veterans lose clinical eligibility. Veterans and their caregivers often report receiving unclear or delayed notifications about why benefits were reduced or terminated, making it difficult to plan for alternative care arrangements or appeal decisions they believe are incorrect. The TEAM Veteran Caregivers Act requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize all caregivers by documenting them in veterans' health records and to notify both veterans and caregivers using standardized letters whenever clinical determinations are made about eligibility, tier reductions, or program termination. These notifications must include the same explanatory elements required for other VA benefit decisions, ensuring recipients understand the reasoning behind the determination and their appeal rights. Additionally, the bill directs the VA to extend caregiver benefits for at least 90 days after notifying a veteran that they no longer qualify clinically, giving families time to arrange alternative care. The 90-day extension applies automatically upon ineligibility determination, except in cases of caregiver fraud, abuse, or neglect; when a replacement primary caregiver is designated; when a third family caregiver is added; when the caregiver moves out or abandons the relationship; or upon request by either party. The VA must implement these notification and recognition requirements using existing resources and processes. The temporary benefit extension creates a transition period that allows veterans and caregivers to adjust without immediate loss of support, though it does not permanently restore eligibility or create new funding streams beyond the 90-day window.
Armed Forces and National Security
Latest updateDec 19, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Armed Forces and National Security
Armed Forces and National SecurityHR-219-119Latest action: Feb 11, 20259 readersIn Committee
Improving Menopause Care for Veterans Act of 2025
Sponsored by Julia Brownley
The Department of Veterans Affairs currently furnishes medical services to eligible veterans under established statutory authorities, including outpatient care and hospital-based services. However, there is limited systematic information about the quality, accessibility, and comprehensiveness of menopause care—including perimenopause and genitourinary syndrome of menopause—that the VA provides to women veterans. No formal assessment has been conducted to determine whether VA medical providers receive adequate training in menopause management, whether clinical guidelines and protocols exist, or whether veterans are adequately informed about available treatment options and benefits. The bill directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a comprehensive study of menopause care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Comptroller General must examine the current state of VA menopause services, review existing clinical guidelines and provider training protocols, evaluate access to interdisciplinary care, assess the adequacy of patient education and outreach efforts, and evaluate the quality of care delivered—including veteran feedback and mechanisms for addressing complaints. The study must also review how the VA leverages research to improve menopause treatments and protocols, and must include recommendations for improvement. The Comptroller General must deliver the study report within 18 months of enactment and make it publicly available. Following the report's release, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has six months to submit a strategic implementation plan to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans' Affairs detailing how the department will adopt the recommendations, improve menopause care quality, and expand veteran access to these services. The bill carries no direct appropriation but requires the VA to respond formally to findings, creating accountability for addressing identified gaps in women veteran care.
Armed Forces and National Security
Latest updateFeb 11, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Armed Forces and National Security
Armed Forces and National SecurityHR-211-119Latest action: Feb 6, 20256 readersIn Committee
Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act
Sponsored by Julia Brownley
Under current law, the Department of Veterans Affairs provides health care to eligible veterans, including prescription medications and medical services. Title 38 of the United States Code governs VA benefits and establishes copayment requirements for various services. Currently, the VA can charge veterans copayments for contraceptive items and services, similar to other prescription medications. However, the Affordable Care Act requires most private health insurance plans to cover certain contraceptive methods without any copayment or cost-sharing. This creates an inconsistency: veterans using VA health care may face out-of-pocket costs for contraception that civilians with private insurance do not. The Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act amends Section 1722A(a)(2) of title 38 to eliminate copayments for contraceptive items covered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill prohibits the VA from charging veterans copayments that exceed the agency's actual cost for contraceptive medications, and it further prohibits any copayment for contraceptive items that federal law requires private insurers to cover without cost-sharing under the Public Health Service Act. This aligns VA coverage with the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive coverage standards, ensuring veterans receive the same no-cost access to approved contraceptive methods as privately insured Americans. The changes take effect upon enactment, immediately eliminating copayments for eligible contraceptive items at VA facilities nationwide. The bill does not require new appropriations; instead, it redirects existing VA pharmacy budgets by removing copayment collection for these specific items. The downstream effect reduces out-of-pocket spending for veterans seeking contraception through VA health care, potentially increasing utilization of preventive reproductive health services. This may modestly increase VA pharmacy costs for contraceptive medications, though the agency's overall budget remains unchanged. The change applies only to contraceptive items explicitly covered under federal insurance requirements, leaving copayment structures for other VA services intact.
Armed Forces and National Security
Latest updateFeb 6, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Armed Forces and National Security
Armed Forces and National SecurityHR-71-119Latest action: Feb 6, 20255 readersIn Committee
Veterans Health Care Freedom Act
Sponsored by Andy Biggs
Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs operates under strict geographic and clinical requirements that limit where veterans can receive care. Under existing law, veterans generally must receive community care through specific authorization pathways—either through section 1703 of title 38, which requires meeting certain distance or wait-time thresholds, or section 1703A, which involves Veterans Care Agreements with predetermined conditions. Additionally, veterans typically must receive care within their assigned Veterans Integrated Service Network, even if facilities in other networks are closer or more appropriate. These restrictions can create delays and limit veteran choice. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting through the Center for Innovation for Care and Payment, shall establish a three-year pilot program in at least four geographically diverse Veterans Integrated Service Networks—including both rural and urban areas—that removes these restrictions. The pilot authorizes eligible enrolled veterans to select any primary care provider, specialty care provider, and mental health provider within a "covered care system" that includes VA facilities nationwide, community providers under section 1703, and providers with Veterans Care Agreements. The Secretary shall waive the distance and wait-time requirements that normally gate access to community care and shall allow veterans to receive care at any VA facility regardless of their home network. Each veteran must designate a primary care provider to coordinate services, though specialists may serve as primary providers when clinically appropriate. The pilot runs for three years beginning one year after enactment, with the Secretary submitting quarterly implementation reports and annual results reports to Congress. No new appropriations are authorized; the program operates within existing Veterans Health Administration funding. Critically, four years after enactment, the pilot's provider-choice model becomes permanent law. The Secretary must then apply the same conditions to all covered veterans under both section 1703 and section 1703A, and must allow veterans to access any VA facility nationwide regardless of their assigned network. This transition converts a temporary pilot into standing policy affecting all veterans' access to care.
Armed Forces and National Security
Latest updateFeb 6, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Armed Forces and National Security
Armed Forces and National SecurityHR-72-119Latest action: Feb 6, 20250 readersIn Committee
TBI and PTSD Treatment Act
Sponsored by Andy Biggs
The Department of Veterans Affairs currently provides a range of medical treatments for veterans with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder through its health care system, but hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not explicitly authorized as a covered benefit under title 38 of the United States Code. While the VA may provide this treatment in limited circumstances, veterans seeking hyperbaric oxygen therapy for these conditions often face uncertainty about coverage and access. The absence of clear statutory authority has created gaps in treatment options for veterans dealing with these service-connected conditions. This bill amends title 38 by adding a new section 1710F that directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish hyperbaric oxygen therapy to veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder. The therapy must be provided through health care providers meeting the standards outlined in existing VA regulations. The bill establishes a clear statutory mandate rather than leaving the decision to VA discretion, ensuring eligible veterans can access this treatment as part of their covered benefits. The change takes effect upon enactment, though implementation will depend on VA capacity and provider availability. The bill does not specify a dedicated funding source, meaning costs will be absorbed within the VA's existing medical care budget. As the VA expands access to hyperbaric oxygen therapy, it may need to contract with additional providers or establish new treatment facilities, potentially affecting wait times for other VA services and requiring resource reallocation within the department's health care system.
Armed Forces and National Security
Latest updateFeb 6, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Armed Forces and National Security
Armed Forces and National SecurityHR-136-119Latest action: Feb 3, 20253 readersIn Committee
Veteran Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act of 2025
Sponsored by Vern Buchanan
The Department of Veterans Affairs currently prescribes medications to veterans with conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and depression, but there is limited comprehensive data on whether these prescribing practices correlate with veteran suicide rates. While the VA tracks some mortality data, there is no systematic independent review examining the medications prescribed to veterans who died by suicide, the frequency of multiple concurrent prescriptions, or how VA prescribing guidelines compare to non-medication treatments. This gap in analysis makes it difficult to identify potential patterns, safety concerns, or opportunities to improve mental health care delivery across the VA system. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine within 90 days to conduct an independent review of all veteran suicides over the preceding five years. The review will examine prescribed medications—particularly those with black box warnings or prescribed off-label—alongside demographic data, diagnoses, and treatment approaches. The National Academies will analyze whether veterans received medication-only treatment or non-medication first-line treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy, identify VA medical facilities with markedly high prescription and suicide rates, assess VA coordination with state prescription drug monitoring programs, and evaluate VA staffing levels for mental health professionals including counselors and therapists. The National Academies must complete the review and submit findings within 180 days of the agreement. The Secretary then has 30 days to submit the report to Congress and release it publicly. The review will not directly change current VA operations but will provide data to inform updates to VA clinical practice guidelines and identify systemic issues in mental health staffing, medication oversight, and coordination with state health agencies. The findings may prompt the VA to adjust prescribing protocols, increase mental health workforce hiring, or strengthen coordination mechanisms to prevent overprescribing across VA and non-VA providers.
Armed Forces and National Security
Latest updateFeb 3, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Armed Forces and National Security
Armed Forces and National SecurityHR-96-119Latest action: Jan 3, 20252 readersIn Committee
Buzz Off Act
Sponsored by Andy Biggs
Federal law enforcement agencies currently operate under a patchwork of regulations governing drone surveillance. While some statutes restrict certain surveillance activities, no comprehensive federal prohibition exists on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor specific U.S. citizens or their private property. Agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Department of Homeland Security have used drones for surveillance purposes, sometimes with limited judicial oversight. The absence of clear statutory restrictions has raised concerns among privacy advocates and lawmakers about the scope and frequency of such monitoring. The Buzz Off Act prohibits federal law enforcement agencies from using unmanned aerial vehicles to intentionally conduct surveillance of, gather evidence about, or photograph or electronically record a specifically targeted U.S. citizen or their private property. The bill establishes two exceptions: the President, acting through the Secretary of Homeland Security, may authorize drone surveillance if the Secretary certifies in writing under oath that surveillance is necessary to counter a high risk of terrorist attack by a specific individual or organization; and any federal law enforcement agency may use drones if a judge first issues a search warrant authorizing the surveillance. The prohibition takes effect upon enactment and applies to all federal law enforcement agencies. Agencies must immediately cease targeted drone surveillance operations that lack either presidential authorization with Secretary of Homeland Security certification or a judicial search warrant. The bill does not require new funding or create new administrative structures. Existing surveillance programs would need to be restructured to comply with the warrant requirement or presidential authorization standard, potentially affecting ongoing investigations and requiring agencies to seek judicial approval for drone operations previously conducted without such oversight.
Armed Forces and National Security
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Armed Forces and National Security
Armed Forces and National SecurityHR-80-119Latest action: Jan 3, 20251 readersIn Committee
Drain the Intelligence Community Swamp Act of 2025
Sponsored by Andy Biggs
Under current law, security clearances are managed by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and individual agencies like the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency. Clearances are typically revoked through established procedures that include investigation, notice, and opportunity for the individual to respond. Former intelligence officials retain security clearances after leaving government service if they meet ongoing eligibility standards, allowing them to consult with agencies or work in the private sector on classified matters. The clearance process is designed to protect national security while following due process protections. This bill directs the immediate revocation of security clearances for 51 named former intelligence officials within 24 hours of enactment. The individuals listed are signatories to a public statement issued in October 2020 regarding Hunter Biden emails. The bill prohibits any future security clearance from being granted or renewed to these individuals. Additionally, the Secretary of Defense and the Attorney General are required to investigate these individuals regarding their role in the Hunter Biden laptop matter and their level of engagement with the Biden Presidential campaign. The revocations take effect immediately upon the bill's enactment, with no transition period or appeal process specified in the legislation. The bill does not identify a funding source for the investigations mandated for the Secretary of Defense and Attorney General, suggesting these would be conducted using existing agency resources. The practical effect is that the named individuals would lose access to classified information and could no longer work on classified government contracts or consult with intelligence agencies on sensitive matters, potentially affecting their employment in the defense and intelligence contracting sectors.
Armed Forces and National Security
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Armed Forces and National Security
Armed Forces and National SecurityHR-117-119Latest action: Jan 3, 20250 readersIn Committee
Fourth Amendment Restoration Act
Sponsored by Andy Biggs
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) currently authorizes the federal government to conduct surveillance of foreign powers and their agents with a lower legal threshold than traditional criminal investigations. Under FISA, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court can approve surveillance based on a finding that the target is a foreign power or agent of a foreign power, without requiring the probable cause standard that applies to domestic criminal investigations. This framework has enabled intelligence agencies to monitor communications and conduct searches when national security interests are at stake, even when traditional warrant requirements might not apply. The Fourth Amendment Restoration Act repeals FISA entirely and requires federal officers to obtain a warrant under standard Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure from a federal court before conducting electronic surveillance, physical searches, pen registers, or demanding tangible things concerning any United States citizen. The bill defines electronic surveillance narrowly to cover intentional targeting of a particular known citizen in the United States under circumstances where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists and a warrant would be required for law enforcement purposes. The act also prohibits use of any information about a U.S. citizen acquired under Executive Order 12333 (the executive order governing intelligence activities) as evidence in any proceeding, and bars use of information about citizens incidentally collected during surveillance of non-citizens. The repeal takes effect upon enactment, immediately eliminating the legal authority under which intelligence agencies currently operate surveillance programs. No new funding is required; the bill simply removes statutory authorization. Existing intelligence operations targeting U.S. citizens would cease unless conducted under traditional criminal warrant procedures. The bill establishes criminal penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and at least five years imprisonment for officers who conduct surveillance without authorization, with a defense available only for law enforcement acting under valid search warrants or court orders.
Armed Forces and National Security
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Armed Forces and National Security