Legislative Hearing on: Discussion Draft: the “BEACON Act”; H.R.6444, the “Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act”; H.R.6526, the “Clarity on Care Options Act”; Discussion Draft: the “Data Driven Suicide Prevention Act”; H.R. 2283, the “RECOVER Act”; Discussion Draft: the “Health Desert Reform Act”; H.R. 2426, the “Veterans Mental Health and Addiction Therapy Quality of Care Act”; H.R 6652: the “US Vets of the FAS Act”; H.R. 4509, the “NOPAIN for Veterans Act”; H.R. 5999, To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish an opioid antagonist to a veteran without requiring a prescription or copayment; H.R. 6001, the “Veterans with ALS Reporting Act”; Discussion Draft: the “Whole Health for Veterans Act.”
2026-01-13
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Source: Congress.gov
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Come to order. The chair may declare a recess at any point. I'd like to welcome all the members and witnesses to today's hearing. Today we'll discuss 12 bills designed to improve the lives of our nation's veterans and the systems they rely on for health care and health-related matters. I'm looking forward to a very productive discussion on each of these bills, including the many that are focused on improving access to mental health care. And speaking of productive, I would just like to acknowledge that Ranking Member Brownlee has decided to retire after this term. I envy her, but I also want to say that she's been longer on the Veterans Health Committee or the Veterans Affairs Committee longer than I have, but this is my sixth year on the committee, and her dedication to our veterans and her input has been invaluable. So thank you so much, Ranking Member Brownlee. Some of the bills that we'll discuss today is the RECOVER Act, introduced by Chairman Bost, which would help fund programs targeted towards reducing attrition in mental health care. Many veterans in areas with limited access to care still face barriers when seeking mental health services, especially in rural and remote parts of the country. Provider shortages and capacity constraints, for example, are some of those many obstacles. We know that in all of these rural areas, or even urban areas, that telemedicine is beneficial, but still it can create problems and challenges if you don't have provider access. The RECOVER Act would require the VA to carry out a three-year pilot program under which nonprofit outpatient medical health providers serving veterans who, for reasons outlined in the bill, may be more likely to discontinue care would be eligible for grant awards. This bill would use existing resources more effectively while working with providers to do more. And as I said, telemedicine works well in this area, so it still is an option. I'm thankful to Chairman Bost for his thoughtful legislation on this matter to bridge the gap in care.
The Veterans Mental Health and Addiction Therapy Quality of Care Act introduced by Representative Fallon would require VA to commission an independent study examining quality, access, and outcomes for mental health and addiction treatment provided both inside and outside the VA. This bill would ensure that we continue to provide veterans with the best possible care to meet their needs. I'm proud to support it. The Beacon Act, introduced by General Bergman, would direct VA to support research and clinical trials focused on chronic mild traumatic brain injury or mild TBI. This would include non-pharmaceutical and community-based rehabilitation approaches and independent research. Many veterans experience long-term and sometimes debilitating conditions because of MTBI. Despite the prevalence of these injuries, work remains in research treatment options and standard of care. This bill would lay the groundwork for future decisions guided by evidence rather than assumptions. I thank General Bergman for making sure the VA delivers care that reflects the realities we're facing. I'd also like to thank Representatives McKenzie and Jackson for their work on legislation addressing brain injury and mental health issues affecting veterans. The Veterans Health Care Desert Reform Act of 2025, a bill I introduced, would direct VA to pilot partnerships with non-VA hospitals in areas where care is lacking. This would allow veterans to receive care equivalent to community care. and I've seen this in my own district. Too many veterans living in rural areas across our nation face the challenge of living in a healthcare desert, an area without a VA facility of any type within a realistically accessible distance. In a health desert, basic care is difficult to maintain, and even the most routine care presents a significant burden for veterans. My bill would fill geographic gaps in access, again, recognizing the importance of telemedicine, ensuring that when VA facilities are not realistically accessible, veterans can still access care closer to home.
This issue is a top priority for me, and my bill is a common-sense expansion of our veterans' access to health care. I look forward to continuing this discussion and working on this matter. The Clarity on CARES Option Act, introduced by Ms. Kiggins, would require VA to create and maintain a searchable directory of providers who accept the Civilian Health and Mental Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, CHAMPVA. This would help ensure that beneficiaries make informed choices about their care. Often CHAMPVA beneficiaries struggle to identify which healthcare providers will accept their coverage. This leads to delays and confusion for families already navigating a complex system, as we heard in an earlier hearing. CHAM-VA is an important health care program for dependents and survivors of our nation's veterans. I appreciate Ms. Kagan's continued efforts to make that coverage more usable in practice for families. I also want to thank Ms. King-Hines for her diligence in assuring that freely associated states' veterans are not ignored. Her work on this matter is appreciated. This morning, we're also joined by several of our colleagues who will speak in support of their bills. We appreciate their dedication to serving our nation's veterans. In accordance with committee rules, I ask unanimous consent that the following members be permitted to participate in today's committee hearing. Representative Pat Fallon, Representative Ryan McKenzie, Representative Greg Lansman, and Representative Chris Deluzio. Without objection, so ordered. I now yield to Yankee Member Brownlee for any opening remarks you may have.
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