Legislative Activity

The **Take Care of America’s Veterans Act** is a comprehensive bill designed to strengthen benefits and modernize services across compensation, education, health care, and VA operations. It eliminates benefit offsets for disabled retirees, expands educational flexibility, sets new standards for timely health care access, and invests in VA technology and infrastructure. Overall, the legislation aims to provide faster, fairer, and more comprehensive support for veterans and their families.

The TSP Modernization Act facilitates the electronic transfer of funds from Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts to qualified retirement plans. This change will take effect one year after the bill is enacted, allowing participants to move their savings more efficiently. The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board is responsible for implementing this new electronic transfer process.

The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act prohibits the VA from reporting veterans to the NICS background check system solely because a fiduciary was appointed to manage their benefits. This legislation ensures that a VA finding of mental incompetence or the appointment of a fiduciary alone is not used to treat a veteran as a "mental defective" for gun control purposes. Furthermore, the VA must notify the Attorney General about past transmissions of this information that lacked a proper legal basis.

This bill supports designating May 29, 2026, as "Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day." The goal is to raise awareness about the unique mental health challenges faced by the agricultural industry and workforce. It also aims to continue reducing the stigma associated with mental illness in this vital sector.

The Recognizing Community Organizations for Veteran Engagement and Recovery (RECOVER) Act establishes a three-year Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program to award grants to non-profit organizations. These grants fund the provision of culturally competent, evidence-based mental health care specifically for veterans. Recipients cannot charge veterans for this care and must encourage them to enroll in the VA system for ongoing services. The VA must report on the program's outcomes, including veteran engagement and care quality, after the pilot concludes.

This bill changes the legal home of the National Woman's Relief Corps by moving its incorporation and domicile from the District of Columbia to Illinois. It also relocates the organization's principal office to Murphysboro, Illinois. Furthermore, the legislation updates where legal documents must be served upon the Corps.

The USDA Loan Modernization Act updates eligibility requirements for various USDA farm loans, including real estate, operating, and emergency loans. The bill standardizes ownership requirements across these programs, generally replacing "a majority" interest with a clear "at least a 50 percent" ownership threshold. It also introduces new provisions to accommodate complex business structures and recognizes "qualified operators" as automatically meeting certain criteria.

The VISN Reform Act of 2025 restructures the Veterans Health Administration into eight new, geographically defined Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs). This act mandates significant operational changes, including limiting VISN headquarters staff to 50 employees and requiring Presidential appointment of VISN Directors. The legislation aims to streamline operations, reduce duplication, and ensure efficient, high-quality healthcare delivery tailored to local veteran needs.

This act authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to undertake a major medical facility project in St. Louis, Missouri, during Fiscal Year 2026. The project includes the construction of a new bed tower, clinical expansion, administrative facilities, and supporting infrastructure. It authorizes up to \$1,762,668,000 for the completion of these necessary upgrades.

The Veterans ACCESS Act of 2025 seeks to improve veterans' healthcare by revising the Veterans Community Care Program, enhancing mental health treatment programs, and implementing other healthcare improvements. Title I revises eligibility standards for community care, ensures veterans are informed about their options, and addresses care preferences and telehealth options. Title II standardizes eligibility for mental health programs, improves care quality, and ensures timely access to treatment. Title III focuses on improving healthcare services through online tools, modifying innovation programs, and increasing reporting on healthcare processes.

The Protecting Veterans Claim Options Act modifies how the Board of Veterans Appeals handles certain supplemental claims, ensuring they are not rejected solely for lack of new evidence on appeal. It also establishes specific rules for considering new evidence when cases are remanded from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Finally, this bill extends the expiration date for certain existing limits on veterans' pension payments until January 2035.

The Upending Secret Postal Shutdowns Act (USPS Act) establishes clear, mandatory procedures for the Postal Service when temporarily closing a post office due to an emergency. This bill requires immediate public notice, timely notification to elected officials, and specific review periods for longer closures. Ultimately, it aims to increase transparency and accountability regarding sudden postal service disruptions.

The Agricultural and Rural Road Improvement Program Act establishes a new federal program dedicated to repairing and improving critical local and rural roads essential for agriculture. This program aims to enhance access to farms and agricultural facilities, reduce weight-restricted bridges, and increase the safety and resilience of rural transportation networks. Federal funding for these projects will cover up to 90 percent of the total cost.

This Act, also known as the VA COST SAVINGS Enhancements Act, directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to analyze the cost-effectiveness of treating regulated medical waste on-site at its facilities versus shipping it off-site. If on-site treatment is found to be financially beneficial over a five-year period, the VA must purchase and install the necessary treatment systems. Importantly, this legislation does not authorize any new funding for its implementation.

This resolution officially designates the week of September 14 through September 20, 2025, as "National Truck Driver Appreciation Week." It recognizes the vital role of the nation's 3.5 million professional truck drivers in supporting the economy by safely moving over 70 percent of all freight. The bill serves as a formal acknowledgment from Congress of the essential sacrifices and dedication of these drivers to the American supply chain.

The Clean Water SRF Parity Act of 2025 expands eligibility for federal water pollution control funding to include qualified nonprofit organizations for treatment works projects. It also establishes specific rules for how funds can be used by privately owned treatment works, ensuring assistance primarily benefits users rather than shareholders. Furthermore, the Act prohibits states from providing additional subsidies to these specific nonprofit and privately owned entities receiving assistance under these new provisions.

The Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025 aims to significantly speed up the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims and appeals process through increased reporting and new procedural tools. This legislation mandates annual transparency on decision times and empowers the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) to group similar cases for faster resolution. Furthermore, it expands the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) and requires studies to explore issuing precedential BVA decisions to streamline common legal issues.

The Shawnee TRAILS Act mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture must designate and maintain at least 20 percent of trails in the Shawnee National Forest specifically for recreational use by covered vehicles, including e-bikes and off-highway vehicles (OHVs). This legislation ensures continuous access to these designated trails for trail riding while requiring active management to maintain trail quality and minimize natural resource impacts. Furthermore, the Act prohibits restricting covered vehicles from using existing paved roads within the forest.

The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act establishes a grant program to expand commercial truck parking and improve safety. The program provides funds to states, local governments, and tribal entities for projects that increase parking availability, improve existing facilities, and use technology to manage parking. The Act also requires a biennial report to Congress on the availability of truck parking and the effectiveness of funded projects. It authorizes $151 million per fiscal year from 2025 through 2029 for these initiatives.

The Securing Our Lands and Resources Act (SOLAR Act) restricts USDA funding for ground-mounted solar energy systems that convert covered farmland, with exceptions for small projects, on-farm energy use, or projects approved by local governments. These approved projects must adhere to a farmland conservation plan that protects soil health, ensures restoration after the project ends, and provides sufficient decommissioning funds. Failure to comply with the conservation plan results in repayment of USDA financial assistance.