CHIP IN for Veterans Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 217
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-20: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T18:53:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, titled the "Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2025" (or "CHIP IN for Veterans Act of 2025"), aims to expand and extend a temporary pilot program established in 2016. The program allows the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to accept donations from private entities to improve VA facilities, making it easier for communities and organizations to contribute to veterans' healthcare and services without relying solely on government funding.
Key Provisions
- Expansion of Acceptable Donations: The pilot program now includes not only real property (like land or buildings) and related improvements but also "minor construction" (small-scale building projects) or "nonrecurring maintenance" (one-time repairs or upkeep that isn't ongoing).
- Updated Rules for Donations:
- Donors can cover costs for designing, altering, maintaining, or constructing these items.
- The VA can enter agreements with donors for these contributions, ensuring they align with VA needs.
- Conforming changes update the law's language to refer broadly to "donations" or "projects" instead of just "property," for clarity and consistency.
- Extension of the Program: The pilot, originally set to end on December 16, 2026, is extended to December 16, 2031, providing five additional years for implementation.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 2 of the 2016 Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act (Public Law 114-294), which is a note to 38 U.S.C. 8103.
- Broadens the scope beyond property donations to include direct funding or support for minor VA construction and maintenance projects, reducing bureaucratic hurdles.
- Replaces specific terms like "real property and improvements" with more general "donation" language throughout the law to accommodate the expanded categories.
- While the bill's preamble mentions making the program "permanent," the text only extends it temporarily to 2031, not indefinitely.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The VA gains flexibility to accept a wider range of private donations, potentially speeding up facility upgrades and reducing taxpayer costs for maintenance or small builds. This could strain administrative resources initially to manage new donation types but improve long-term efficiency.
- On Citizens: Veterans and their families may benefit from faster improvements to VA hospitals and clinics, leading to better healthcare access. Donors (individuals, businesses, or communities) face fewer restrictions, encouraging more philanthropy.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic VA operations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Primary beneficiary, as it can now more easily integrate private donations into its operations.
- Veterans and VA Users: Improved facilities could enhance healthcare and support services for millions of veterans.
- Donors and Communities: Nonprofits, local governments, businesses, and individuals interested in supporting veterans, who gain broader opportunities to contribute without complex federal procurement rules.
- Congress and Taxpayers: Indirectly affected through potential cost savings on VA infrastructure, though oversight of the extended pilot remains with congressional committees like Veterans' Affairs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens public-private partnerships under title 38 of the U.S. Code (which governs veterans' benefits) by clarifying donation rules, potentially reducing legal disputes over what qualifies as an acceptable gift. No changes to core VA authority or funding mechanisms.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power (Article I, Section 8) to support veterans, with no apparent conflicts involving free speech, property rights, or federalism, as it encourages voluntary donations.
- Political: Promotes bipartisan support for veterans' issues by leveraging private sector involvement, which could appeal across party lines. The extension (rather than permanence) suggests a cautious approach, allowing for future evaluation before full commitment. No major controversies noted in the bill itself.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-20: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-05-19: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2025-05-19: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2121-2122)
- 2025-05-19: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2121-2122)
- 2025-05-19: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 217.
- 2025-05-19: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2121-2123)
- 2025-05-19: Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 2025-05-17: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 70.
- 2025-05-17: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-97.
- 2025-05-17: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-97.
- 2025-05-06: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-03-25: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
- 2025-03-25: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-02-11: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 2025-01-07: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Bill Versions
- Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-19 — PDF (6 pages)
- Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act — issued 2025-01-07 — PDF (4 pages)
- Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-20 — PDF (5 pages)
- Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-17 — PDF (8 pages)