To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish qualifications for the appointment of a person as a marriage and family therapist, qualified to provide clinical supervision, in the Veterans Health Administration.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 658
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-03: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-11T13:24:42Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, H.R. 658, aims to update the qualifications required for appointing marriage and family therapists within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Specifically, it establishes criteria for those therapists who are also qualified to provide clinical supervision (guidance and oversight to other therapists in training or practice).
Key Provisions
- Eligibility for Appointment: Individuals must meet existing basic qualifications for marriage and family therapists under Section 7402(b)(10) of title 38, United States Code.
- Additional Requirement for Clinical Supervision: To qualify for providing clinical supervision, the person must be recognized by the relevant state as either a provider of clinical supervision or otherwise permitted by that state to offer it.
- Structural Changes to the Law: The amendment reorganizes the existing text by redesignating certain subparagraphs as clauses and adding a new subparagraph (B) to incorporate the supervision qualification.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Prior to this bill, Section 7402(b)(10) outlined general eligibility for marriage and family therapists but did not explicitly address qualifications for those providing clinical supervision.
- The new subparagraph (B) introduces a state-recognition requirement for supervision roles, ensuring alignment with state licensing standards while building on federal eligibility criteria.
- This creates a two-tier system: basic appointment eligibility remains unchanged, but supervision adds a layer of state-verified expertise.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The VA will need to verify state recognitions during hiring, potentially streamlining recruitment of qualified supervisors but requiring updated administrative processes to check state credentials.
- On Citizens (Veterans): Veterans receiving mental health services through the VHA may benefit from higher-quality supervision of therapists, leading to more effective marriage and family therapy for issues like PTSD or relationship challenges.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic VA operations and U.S. state laws.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Veterans Health Administration (VA): Directly responsible for implementing hiring changes and ensuring compliance.
- Marriage and Family Therapists: Professionals seeking VA positions, particularly those aiming for supervisory roles, must now meet state-specific supervision standards.
- Veterans and Their Families: Primary beneficiaries, as improved therapist qualifications could enhance access to reliable mental health care.
- State Licensing Boards: Involved indirectly, as their recognitions will influence federal appointments.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal-state coordination by tying VA appointments to state professional standards, reducing potential liability from unqualified supervision without overriding state authority.
- Constitutional: Aligns with federal authority over veterans' benefits (under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution) and does not infringe on states' rights to regulate professions.
- Political: Supports broader efforts to improve VA mental health services, potentially appealing to bipartisan interests in veteran care, though it may involve minor administrative burdens on the VA during implementation. No major controversies are evident from the bill's text.
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 (1)
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-03: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2026-02-02: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-02-02: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1932)
- 2026-02-02: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1932)
- 2026-02-02: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 658.
- 2026-02-02: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1932-1933)
- 2026-02-02: Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 2025-05-17: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 72.
- 2025-05-17: Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-99.
- 2025-05-17: Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-99.
- 2025-05-06: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- 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
- 2025-03-04: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Bill Versions
- An Act To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish qualifications for the appointment of a person as a marriage and family therapist, qualified to provide clinical supervision, in the Veterans Health Administration. — issued 2026-02-02 — PDF (4 pages)
- To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish qualifications for the appointment of a person as a marriage and family therapist, qualified to provide clinical supervision, in the Veterans Health Administration. — issued 2025-01-23 — PDF (2 pages)
- An Act To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish qualifications for the appointment of a person as a marriage and family therapist, qualified to provide clinical supervision, in the Veterans Health Administration. — issued 2026-02-03 — PDF (3 pages)
- To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish qualifications for the appointment of a person as a marriage and family therapist, qualified to provide clinical supervision, in the Veterans Health Administration. — issued 2025-05-17 — PDF (6 pages)