[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2970 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2970
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to
the laws relating to advocacy for veterans who receive health care and
other benefits furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 17, 2025
Mr. Yakym introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to
the laws relating to advocacy for veterans who receive health care and
other benefits furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Veterans Advocate Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. INDEPENDENT OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL VETERANS' ADVOCATE IN
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Section 7309A of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking the section heading and inserting the
following new section heading:
``Sec. 7309A. Office of the National Veterans' Advocate'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``within the Office of the Under
Secretary for Health'';
(B) by striking ``an office'' and inserting ``an
independent office''; and
(C) by striking ```Office of Patient Advocacy'''
and inserting ```Office of the National Veterans'
Advocate''';
(3) by striking ``patient advocate'' each place it appears
and inserting ``veteran advocate'';
(4) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the
following new paragraph (1):
``(1) The Office of the National Veterans' Advocate shall be under
the supervision and direction of an official to be known as the
``National Veterans' Advocate''. The National Veterans' Advocate shall
report directly to the Secretary and shall be entitled to compensation
at the same rate as the highest rate of basic pay established for the
Senior Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5, United States
Code.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``Office of Patient
Advocacy'' and inserting ``Office of the
National Veterans' Advocate'';
(ii) by striking ``by the Under Secretary
for Health'' and inserting ``by the
Secretary''; and
(iii) by striking ``shall report directly
to the Under Secretary for Health'' and
inserting ``shall be independent of the
Secretary'';
(5) by striking ``Director'' each place it appears and
inserting ``National Veterans' Advocate'';
(6) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking the subsection heading and
inserting ``(c) Functions.--'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``function'' and inserting
``functions'';
(ii) by striking ``is'' and inserting
``are''; and
(iii) by inserting before the period at the
end the following: ``and to monitor Department
processes and make recommendations to Congress
on how to improve the Department's efficiency
and care for veterans'';
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``and'' after the semicolon;
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the
period and inserting a semicolon; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following
new subparagraphs:
``(D) identify areas in which veterans have problems in
dealings with the Department;
``(E) to the extent possible, propose changes in the
administrative practices of the Department to mitigate problems
identified under subparagraph (D); and
``(F) identify potential legislative changes which may be
appropriate to mitigate such problems.'';
(D) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``and'' after the semicolon;
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as
subparagraph (C);
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A)
the following new subparagraph (B):
``(B) fill out forms to relating to casework problem that
facilitate the rapid assignment of a local veteran advocate
caseworker who can directly interface with the veteran if
needed; and''; and
(iv) in subparagraph (C), as redesignated
by clause (ii), by inserting ``or forms'' after
``complaint'' both times it appears;
(E) by adding at the end the following new
paragraphs:
``(4) The Office shall have the authority to manage casework issues
across the Department.
``(5)(A) Not later than March 30 and September 30 of each year, the
National Veterans' Advocate shall submit to the Committees on Veterans'
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the
operations of the Office of the National Veterans' Advocate. Each such
report shall include--
``(i) a description of the activities of the Office carried
out pursuant so subsection (c)(2)(D) through (F); and
``(ii) independent legislative recommendations for the
improvement of health outcomes for veterans, the quality of
health care and benefits provided by the Department, and the
cost efficiency of the Department.
``(B) Recommendations included in a report under this paragraph may
not be reviewed by the Secretary or by any other official of the
Department prior to submission.
``(C) Each report under this paragraph shall be transmitted to the
Secretary and made publicly available on the website the National
Veterans' Advocate.
``(6) The Office shall have a designated publicly accessible
website that includes access to the information technology system
required under paragraph (3).'';
(7) in subsection (d)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Patient Advocacy'' and inserting ``Veteran
Advocacy''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(15) In coordination with the recommendation team, to
identify problems experienced within the Department in the
course of providing hospital care, medical services, and
nursing home care and burial and interment benefits to veterans
and to develop recommendations to address such problems.'';
(8) in subsection (e)--
(A) by striking ``shall ensure that such training
is consistent throughout the Department.'' and
inserting ``shall--'';
(B) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraphs:
``(A) develop the curriculum for such training in
coordination with the Under Secretary for Benefits, the
Under Secretary for Health, the Director of each of the
Veterans Integrated Service Networks, and veterans
service organizations;
``(B) ensure that each veteran advocate is required
to receive such training on an annual basis;
``(C) ensure that such training includes up-to-date
information on Department policy, crisis management,
health care, and such other matters as the Secretary
determines appropriate; and
``(D) ensure that such training is consistent
throughout the Department.'';
(9) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (l); and
(10) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new
subsections:
``(f) Deputy National Veterans' Advocates.--(1) There is in each
Veterans Integrated Service Network (hereinafter referred to as a
`VISN') a Deputy National Veterans' Advocate who shall have
responsibility for managing the employees of the Office with primary
responsibility for casework.
``(2) The Deputy National Veterans' Advocate for a VISN shall
ensure that for the geographic area served by that VISN, the Department
employs at least one veteran advocate for every 12,000 veterans who
reside in such area and are enrolled in the patient enrollment system
under section 1705 of this title.
``(g) Office Employees.--The Office of the National Veterans'
Advocate shall have employees in the Washington, D.C., office in the
Department. Such employees shall carry out the responsibilities under
subsection (c)(2)(D) through (F), coordinate with Deputy National
Veterans' Advocates and veteran advocates, and carry out such other
responsibilities as the National Veterans' Advocate determines
appropriate.
``(h) Casework Request Portal.--The National Veterans' Advocate
shall establish, on the website of the National Veterans' Advocate, a
casework request portal that veterans can use to request assistance
with casework.
``(i) Outreach.--The Secretary shall conduct outreach to veterans
receiving benefits under the laws administrated by the Secretary to
provide information to such veterans about the Office and the
assistance available to veterans through the Office.
``(j) Coordination To Improve Policies.--The Secretary, the
National Veterans' Advocate, the Under Secretary for Health, and the
Under Secretary for Benefits shall--
``(1) work closely together on a continual basis to improve
the policies of the Department without the necessity for
congressional action; and
``(2) communicate frequently to ensure such improvement.
``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2030.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 73 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to
section 7309A and inserting the following new item:
``7309A. Office of the National Veterans' Advocate.''.
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