BRAVE Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6024
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-03: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T08:06:51Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The BRAVE Act of 2025 aims to enhance mental health services for veterans by strengthening the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) workforce, improving infrastructure and technology at Vet Centers (community-based counseling centers for readjustment services), addressing specific needs of women veterans, and expanding access to targeted programs. It focuses on better coordination, outreach, and resource allocation to support veterans' mental health, particularly for those at high risk of suicide or facing unique challenges like trauma or disabilities.
Key Provisions
The bill is divided into four titles, each targeting specific areas of improvement.
Title I: Improvement of Workforce in Support of Mental Health Care
- Report on Market Pay Surveys (Sec. 101): Requires the VA Secretary to submit a report within 180 days assessing salary disparities for Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) employees (e.g., counselors, social workers) compared to VA and private sector peers. It must cover all districts, including rural and urban areas, and evaluate factors like location, qualifications, and incentives to address staffing challenges.
- Qualifications of Appointees (Sec. 102): Amends hiring rules in 38 U.S.C. § 7402 to allow the VA Under Secretary for Health to waive licensure requirements for psychologists and licensed professional mental health counselors for a "reasonable period" (replacing fixed time limits) to ease recruitment.
- Report on Coordination (Sec. 103): Mandates a report within 60 days on collaboration between the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and RCS, including assessments of contact information sharing, monthly consultations for high-risk veterans, documentation, and outreach to transitioning service members via the Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program.
Title II: Improvement of Vet Center Infrastructure and Technology
- Comptroller General Report on Expansion Model (Sec. 202): Requires a report within one year evaluating the RCS model for expanding Vet Center locations, focusing on rural demand, reassessment frequency, suicide hotspots (via the Veterans Crisis Line), mobile unit trends, and unique veteran needs.
- Guidance and Information for Outreach (Sec. 203): Directs the VA to provide Vet Centers with demographic data on eligible veterans (e.g., age, gender, recent transitions) within 180 days; develop metrics to evaluate outreach effectiveness; and create processes to assess barriers for veterans and staff in accessing or providing services.
- Report on IT System (Sec. 204): Requires a report within 60 days on the RCS's "RCSNet" platform, including decisions on retention or replacement, rationales, improvement steps, timelines, and costs.
Title III: Women Veterans
- Study on Effectiveness (Sec. 301): Mandates surveys and listening sessions with women veterans within 240 days to evaluate VA suicide prevention, lethal-means safety (e.g., reducing access to harmful methods), and mental health outreach. It assesses tailoring to issues like military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence, across demographics and regions. A follow-up report within one year outlines planned refinements.
- Modification of REACH VET Program (Sec. 302): Requires initiation within 60 days to update the REACH VET program (a predictive tool for identifying suicide risk) by weighting risk factors specific to women, such as military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence.
- Review of Group Retreat Services (Sec. 303): Directs a review within 60 days of requests for reintegration retreats (group settings for readjustment counseling), focusing on women-only, disability-accessible (e.g., wheelchair-friendly), and medically tailored options. A report within 120 days recommends if these should be expanded and made permanent.
Title IV: Other Matters
- Extension of Suicide Prevention Grant Program (Sec. 401): Amends the 2019 Commander John Scott Hannon Act to extend the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program from three to six years and increase annual funding from $750,000 to $1,000,000 for community-based prevention efforts.
- Access for Veterans with Spinal Cord Injuries (Sec. 402): Requires a plan within 60 days for integrating mental health residential treatment (inpatient rehab programs) with spinal cord care, including staffing, equipment, and location assessments. Launches a pilot at three VA facilities within 120 days, followed by a one-year report on implementation, results, and expansion plans.
- Mental Health Consultations and Outreach (Sec. 403): Redesignates and amends 38 U.S.C. § 1167 to § 1169, adding annual consultations and outreach for veterans receiving disability compensation for mental health conditions. It ensures these do not affect compensation eligibility. Adds biennial reviews of outreach efficacy, with reports to Congress including veteran feedback mechanisms.
- Joint Report on Transition Programs (Sec. 404): Requires a joint VA-DoD report within 180 days on improving mental health access for transitioning service members, assessing responses to a 2024 GAO report on gaps, identifying duplications, and recommending changes (including legislation).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Hiring Flexibility: Expands waiver authority for licensure in psychologist and counselor roles (38 U.S.C. § 7402), allowing indefinite "reasonable periods" instead of strict time limits to address shortages.
- REACH VET Updates: Mandates gender-specific risk weighting, enhancing a predictive analytics tool without prior such focus.
- Mental Health Consultations (38 U.S.C. § 1169): Shifts from initial-only to annual offerings with outreach; adds biennial efficacy reviews and feedback processes; clarifies no impact on disability benefits.
- Grant Program Extension: Doubles duration and funding for the Fox Suicide Prevention Grants, building on the 2019 Hannon Act.
- Technical Fixes: Redesignates sections and updates clerical references for clarity.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases administrative burden on VA through multiple reports, studies, pilots, and coordination with DoD and the Comptroller General; may require budget reallocations for staffing, IT upgrades, and grants. DoD faces joint reporting obligations to smooth military-to-civilian transitions.
- On Citizens (Veterans and Families): Improves access to tailored mental health services, potentially reducing suicide risks and barriers for women, transitioning members, and those with spinal cord injuries. Enhances outreach and residential care, benefiting families via retreat programs.
- On International Relations: No direct impact; focuses solely on domestic U.S. veteran care.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Veterans: Primary beneficiaries, especially women, those with mental health disabilities, spinal cord injuries, and recent transitions; includes diverse groups by age, race, location, and service era.
- VA and RCS Employees: Counselors, social workers, and administrators gain hiring flexibility and pay assessments but face new coordination and reporting duties.
- Veteran Families: Access to joint retreats and outreach.
- DoD and Transitioning Service Members: Improved mental health handoffs during separation from military service.
- Community Organizations: Eligible for expanded suicide prevention grants.
- Congressional Committees: Receive frequent reports for oversight.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens VA compliance with existing laws (e.g., 38 U.S.C. chapters on hiring and benefits) by adding accountability via reports and pilots; ensures consultations do not trigger benefit reevaluations, protecting entitlement rights. No challenges to due process or equal protection, as provisions promote equitable access.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Article I powers over veteran affairs; no First Amendment or privacy issues, though feedback mechanisms respect voluntary participation.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Rep. Crow and Rep. Kiggans) signals broad support for veteran mental health; emphasizes suicide prevention amid national priorities, potentially influencing future VA funding debates without partisan divides.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (9)
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-03: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 2025-11-12: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-11-12: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-11-12: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-12: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Building Resources and Access for Veterans' Mental Health Engagement Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-12 — PDF (22 pages)