Have You Served Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5995
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-09: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T13:42:46Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Have You Served Act" (H.R. 5995) aims to improve the identification of veterans and military family members within human services systems. It promotes awareness and referrals to support resources, particularly to help prevent veteran suicide by encouraging service providers to ask about military service.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) will award grants to eligible entities to fund "Ask the Question Campaigns." These campaigns train human services professionals, state and local governments, and community providers on:
- How to appropriately ask individuals (consumers) if they or a loved one served in the Armed Forces.
- Available resources from the VA and other providers, with referrals as needed.
- Use of Funds: Grants can cover campaign development or expansion, training, and related costs like staffing, technology, marketing materials, and events.
- Eligible Entities: States (including territories, possessions, D.C., and Puerto Rico) or American Indian/Alaska Native tribes that:
- Have developed a veteran suicide prevention plan (e.g., a "Governors Challenge Action Plan" for states).
- Submit a proposal to the VA with required details and assurances.
- Technical Assistance: The VA must provide support to grantees, including best practices from other campaigns, state-specific veteran resources, VA screening protocols for suicide risk and health factors, and performance metrics for training.
- Grant Limits: Up to 25 grants per fiscal year from 2026 to 2030, each not exceeding $200,000.
- Reporting Requirements:
- Grantees must submit annual reports on performance indicators.
- The VA must submit an implementation report to Congress within one year of enactment and annual reports on grant outcomes.
- Federal Agency Involvement: The VA, with the Office of Management and Budget, will develop a plan to implement similar campaigns in federal social services and health programs where staff interact with the public.
- Funding: Authorizes $6,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new grant program under the VA, with no explicit amendments to prior laws. It builds on existing veteran suicide prevention efforts (e.g., by referencing state-level plans) but creates a dedicated funding mechanism and federal coordination for awareness campaigns, which were not previously mandated at this scale.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The VA will administer grants, provide technical assistance, and coordinate with federal agencies, potentially increasing workload but enhancing inter-agency collaboration on veteran services. State and local governments may see improved integration of veteran support into public programs.
- Citizens: Veterans and military families could benefit from earlier identification and access to tailored resources, such as mental health support, reducing suicide risks and improving overall well-being. Human services professionals gain training to better serve this population.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. veterans and service members.
Main Stakeholders
- Veterans and Military Families: Primary beneficiaries through increased access to resources.
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Leads implementation, grant-making, and reporting.
- States and Tribes: Eligible for grants; must develop and implement suicide prevention plans.
- Human Services Professionals and Community Providers: Receive training to identify and refer veterans.
- Federal Agencies: Involved in expanding campaigns within their programs.
- Congress: Oversees funding and receives reports on program effectiveness.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes a straightforward grant program with clear eligibility and reporting rules, aligning with existing VA authorities under Title 38 of the U.S. Code (veterans' benefits). No challenges to federalism, as it partners with states and tribes voluntarily.
- Constitutional: Supports the federal government's role in caring for veterans (rooted in constitutional powers over military affairs), without infringing on state rights or individual liberties.
- Political: Promotes bipartisan priorities like veteran suicide prevention, potentially fostering goodwill across government levels. It emphasizes non-intrusive questioning to respect privacy, avoiding controversy over data collection.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-09: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 2025-11-10: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-11-10: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Have You Served Act — issued 2025-11-10 — PDF (5 pages)