Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 785, The Representing Our Seniors at VA Act of 2025, H.R. 2068, The Veterans Patient Advocacy Act, H.R. 2605, The Service Dogs Assisting Veterans (SAVES) Act, H.R. 3400, The Territorial Response and Access to Veterans’ Essential Lifecare (TRAVEL) Act of 2025, Discussion Draft: To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit smoking on the premises of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes, Discussion Draft: The VA Data Transparency and Trust Act, Discussion Draft: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study to determine whether RNA sequencing can be used to effectively diagnose PTSD in veterans, Discussion Draft: The Health Professionals Scholarship Program Improvement Act of 2025, Discussion Draft: The Fisher House Availability Act of 2025, H.R. 1404, The CHAMPVA Children’s Care Protection Act of 2025, H.R. 2148, The Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act, Discussion Draft: The VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act

Hospitals and Health Care

2025-06-12

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Source: Congress.gov

Summary

This legislative hearing of the Subcommittee on Health convened to consider twelve legislative proposals aimed at optimizing resources and reinforcing the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) mission to care for veterans' mental and physical health. The meeting featured presentations by members introducing their bills, followed by testimony from VA officials and other stakeholders. [ 00:27:32-00:28:11 ]

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Themes

VA Healthcare Access and Efficiency

Several proposals focused on improving veterans' access to healthcare, particularly in rural and remote areas, and enhancing the VA's operational efficiency. Representative Molinar's Veterans Patient Advocacy Act seeks to expand patient advocates in rural areas. [ 00:29:29-00:29:43 ]

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 The Travel Act, introduced by Representative King Hines, would place VA physicians in U.S. territories to address healthcare scarcity, a measure strongly supported by Mr. Johnson, a Marine Corps veteran from the Northern Mariana Islands who highlighted the significant travel burden on local veterans for specialized care. [ 00:29:58-00:30:33 ]

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 The VA generally supports the Travel Act with proposed amendments for clarification.

Regarding workforce, the Health Professional Scholarship Program Improvement Act, backed by Representative Hamadeh and Representative Budzinski, aims to fix the "broken student-to-employee pipeline" within the VA by streamlining the path for scholarship recipients to begin working. [ 00:28:20-00:29:01 ]

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 The VA agrees with the intent to expedite the employment process but does not support a strict 90-day timeline. Additionally, Representative McGuire's VA Data Transparency and Trust Act proposes a unified reporting system for the VA to improve oversight and program management, a goal supported by the American Legion for its potential to enhance evidence-based care. The VA supports this bill but recommends amendments to narrow the focus to avoid complex, resource-intensive implementation.

Mental Health and PTSD Support

Mental health and PTSD received significant attention, with proposals focusing on advanced diagnostics, outreach, and therapeutic support. Dr. Murphy's Veterans PTSD Screening Act seeks to establish a pilot program for research into PTSD-related inflammation and cellular stress using RNA sequencing, which he believes can help with earlier screening and diagnosis. Mr. Schmidt of iExpress Genes shared his personal and professional experience with RNA transcriptome analysis, advocating for its use as an "objective compass" for diagnosing, treating, and preventing trauma-induced disease, citing promising results. The VA supports the intent of Dr. Murphy's bill but has concerns with some provisions.

Representative Budzinski's VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act aims to expand VA's outreach to veterans with mental health conditions, ensuring they are connected with necessary care. The VA supports this bill, pending amendments and appropriations. Representative Luttrell's SAVES Act, which would cover the costs of service dogs for veterans, was strongly championed for its "life-changing" impact on veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI and its role in suicide prevention, a sentiment echoed by Mr. Lyle of the American Legion. However, the VA expressed concerns about including TBI and PTSD in the criteria due to "insufficient evidence" of service dogs' effectiveness, though they are open to working on the bill's language.

Caregiver and Dependent Support

Discussions also highlighted the critical need for support for caregivers and dependents of veterans. Representative Brownley's CHAMPVA Children's Care Protection Act proposes extending CHAMPVA benefits for children until age 26, aligning with private sector health plans and TRICARE. Ms. Benson, a caregiver, provided compelling testimony about the hardships faced with the current CHAMPVA system, including archaic paper-based processing, significant delays, and the financial burden placed on families, advocating strongly for the bill's passage and systemic improvements. The VA opposes this bill, arguing CHAMPVA is a medical care benefit, not an insurance plan, and deems coverage until age 23 sufficient, citing resource concerns.

The Veteran Caregiver Re-education, Re-employment, and Retirement Act, introduced by Representative Morelli, would offer employment assistance and financial support to caregivers transitioning from the VA's comprehensive assistance program. Ms. Benson endorsed this bill, underscoring the financial sacrifices caregivers make and the necessity for support to facilitate their re-entry into the workforce and secure their financial future. The VA generally supports parts of this bill, subject to appropriations, but seeks further discussion on specific provisions.

Specific Facility and Benefit Improvements

The Fisher House Availability Act, sponsored by Chairwoman Miller-Meeks, aims to ensure that active-duty service members and their families can access Fisher House lodging even when receiving non-VA care, particularly when rooms are available. Mr. Coker of the Fisher House Foundation explained that current VA guidance has resulted in eligible families being turned away, and the foundation supports the bill to restore flexibility without displacing veterans. The VA supports this bill, requesting amendments to clarify eligibility and align language.

Other proposals included Representative Kiggins' Representing Our Seniors at VA Act, which would ensure state veterans' homes have a voice on the Geriatric and Gerontology Advisory Committee, a move supported by the American Legion given the aging veteran population. [ 00:29:09-00:29:22 ]

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 The VA supports the intent and has already taken action but has concerns with the bill's current wording. Finally, Representative Dunn's bill, which seeks to align non-smoking policies at VHA facilities with most medical facilities in America, received strong support from the VA.

Tone of the Meeting

The tone of the meeting was largely collaborative and respectful, with members frequently thanking each other and the witnesses for their contributions. [ 00:30:59 ]

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 However, some frustration was evident, particularly from Ranking Member Brownley regarding the VA's slow response times and position on the CHAMPVA bill, and from Representative Luttrell concerning the VA's stance on the effectiveness of service dogs for PTSD. Despite these points of contention, there was a clear, overarching sense of urgency and shared commitment to improving the care and well-being of veterans. [ 00:27:32 ]

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Participants

Transcript

This legislative hearing of the Subcommittee on Health will now come to order.  Without objection, the chair may declare a recess at any time.  Given that votes have been moved to 3 o'clock, we will in all likelihood declare a recess.  I would like to welcome all members and witnesses to today's hearing.  We have 12 important legislative proposals to consider here today.  It's important to note that not all of the proposals will move forward in the legislative process, but many will.  Congress is responsible for ensuring VA stewards its resources,   Many of my colleagues' bills would optimize VA's funding, talent, and capital.  Other bills reinforce VA's mission to care for veterans in mental and physical health.  I'm grateful to Representative Hamadeh for introducing the Health Professional Scholarship Program Improvement Act.  One of the greatest resource drains at the VA is the broken student-to-employee pipeline.   The VA loses untold investments in student clinicians by offering scholarships in exchange for employment commitments, only for the VA not to keep its end of the deal.  Students are consistently unemployed for months before the VA gives them a position.  These students have been driven to the point where they cut their losses with the VA and seek jobs elsewhere.   at great financial cost to them and an opportunity cost to the VA.  Representative Hamadeh's bill would help end this unacceptable dilemma.  The Representing Our Seniors at VA Act by Representative Kiggins would improve the Geriatric and Gerontology Advisory Committee.  Under current law, there is no requirement for input from state veterans' homes, even though these homes are key partners in serving aging veterans.  Representative Kiggins' bill would fix this oversight by making sure these homes have a seat at the committee table.   The Veterans Patient Advocacy Act by Representative Molinar would increase the rural footprint for VA patient advocates.  I know all too well how veterans in rural areas struggle to obtain care from the VA.  I firmly support the bill's goal to have patient advocates accessible to rural veterans.  I think we can all agree that we can always do more to ensure that VA's resources must keep evolving to reach veterans where they live.
The Travel Act by Representative King Hines would also help our veterans living in remote areas.  This bill would require a one-year billet for VA physicians at U.S.  territories like the Northern Mariana Islands.  Healthcare is not easy to come by in these remote parts of the world.  This bill would place VA practitioners in the right places at the right times.   Representative McGuire's bill, the VA Data Transparency and Trust Act, tackles the unending reporting requirements at VA and replaces them with a comprehensive and unified report on outcomes and metrics to improve VA programs.  The laws today incentivize a system where consultants can create a cottage industry to broker reports, which diverts precious time and money away from VA's mission and only makes oversight more difficult.   Congress has gained little from the manner in which it has received information from the numerous current VA reporting requirements.  Representative McGuire's bill would pull in the reins and improve outcomes for veterans.  My bill, the Fisher House Availability Act, would make lodging in Fisher Houses more accessible for service members and their families.  Fisher House Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to providing lodging for veterans and service members in need.   The VA owns most Fisher Houses.  We know that service members and their families can stay at Fisher Houses whenever they get care from the VA.  However, a recent agency interpretation prohibits them from using VA-owned Fisher House when receiving non-VA care, even though we all know there's more than enough room to house them.  This bill does not displace veterans or veterans' families.  It's important to know.   It would simply ensure that service members have access to available lodging.  I'm thankful to the Fisher House Foundation for supporting this bill, and I'm proud to sponsor it.  Representative Luttrell's bill, the SAVES Act, picks up where the popular PAWS Act left off.   This bill covers costs for service dogs that provide veterans mental and physical assistance.  The therapeutic benefit of service dogs are well established.  I thank Representative Luttrell for his efforts to improve the availability of service dogs for veterans in need.
Representative Dunn's bill would align non-smoking policies at VHA with most medical facilities in America.   Currently, there is no protection in law against smoking at VHA facilities.  As a physician, I know how important it is to make sure that patients breathe clean air when they receive care at the VHA facility.  This bill would ensure that.  Finally, a bill introduced by Dr. Murphy would create a pilot program to build on existing research into PTSD-related inflammation and cellular stress.

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