Take Care of America’s Veterans Act

Bill Number: H.R. 9237
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Armed Forces and National Security
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-06-23: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1377 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1181, H.R. 9022, H.R. 8595 and H.R. 9237. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1181 and H.R. 9237 under a closed rule and H.R. 9022 and H.R. 8595 under a structured rule. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.
Last Updated: 2026-07-07T20:52:33Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The bill amends titles 10 and 38 of the United States Code, along with other Federal laws, to improve benefits for veterans and strengthen the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It addresses compensation, education, health care, organizational structure, memorial affairs, and community care programs.

Key Provisions Outlined

The legislation is organized into six titles:

Title I – Compensation: Expands concurrent receipt of retired pay and disability compensation for certain combat-related disabilities; modifies rules for surviving spouses who remarry; extends increased dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of veterans who die from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; increases certain disability compensation and loan fees; prohibits denial of claims solely for failure to appear at an examination; requires annual reports on causes of death among veterans; reforms disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus; and improves claims processing, including for military sexual trauma.

Title II – Education and Economic Opportunity: Updates GI Bill rules, including payments for licensing tests and apprenticeship stipends; improves the Transition Assistance Program and SkillBridge; expands housing loan eligibility for certain Guard and Reserve members; and enhances outreach and counseling for educational benefits.

Title III – Health Care: Extends and modifies transportation grants; supports veteran caregivers with employment assistance and reemployment; funds research on traumatic brain injury treatments; improves access to care in rural and underserved areas; expands the Veterans Community Care Program; and establishes programs for suicide prevention, mental health, and specialized care such as for spinal cord injuries.

Title IV – Organization: Creates an Under Secretary for Management and Chief Financial Officer; reforms VA acquisition and contracting processes; improves telephone communications and emergency response; and enhances oversight of community care.

Title V – Memorial Affairs: Expands eligibility for VA memorial headstones and markers; provides additional burial benefits when urns or plaques are furnished; and establishes a program to restore religious heritage markers for fallen servicemembers.

Title VI – Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers: Codifies eligibility standards for community care; requires notifications to veterans about eligibility or denials; strengthens quality oversight of community providers; improves mental health residential treatment access; addresses staffing and telework policies; and establishes a Center for Innovation to test payment and service delivery models.

Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced

Expands concurrent receipt for combat-related disabilities and alters remarriage penalties for survivors.
Revises disability rating schedules for sleep apnea and tinnitus, with protections for existing ratings.
Establishes new statutory eligibility access standards for community care and requires VA to notify veterans of eligibility or denials.
Creates a standardized process for mental health residential treatment admissions and appeals.
Reorganizes VA leadership by creating a new Under Secretary position and centralizing acquisition functions.
Authorizes the VA to test innovative payment models while maintaining cost neutrality.

Potential Impacts on Government Agencies, Citizens, or International Relations

On the VA: Increases administrative requirements for claims processing, notifications, training, and reporting; establishes new offices and oversight mechanisms; and may require additional resources for implementation.
On Veterans and Families: Improves access to compensation, education benefits, health care (including community care and mental health services), and memorial benefits; supports caregivers with employment assistance; and enhances options for rural and underserved veterans.
On Non-Department Providers: Imposes new quality, training, and documentation requirements for participation in community care networks.
On Citizens: Expands certain benefits to additional Guard and Reserve members and improves transparency in VA operations.
No significant international relations implications are evident in the legislation.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Veterans, their survivors, and family members (particularly those with service-connected disabilities, mental health needs, or residing in rural areas).
The Department of Veterans Affairs and its employees.
Non-Department health care providers and third-party administrators under the Veterans Community Care Program.
Veterans service organizations and advocates.
Congress, through enhanced reporting and oversight requirements.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

The bill modifies existing statutory frameworks for veterans’ benefits and VA administration, which could lead to implementation challenges or disputes over new processes such as claims appeals and eligibility determinations. It operates within Congress’s authority over spending and veterans’ affairs. The legislation reflects a focus on expanding access and oversight without apparent constitutional conflicts.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]

Cosponsors (30)

Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3], Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5], Rep. Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7], Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8], Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2], Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23], Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11], Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large], Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8], Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7], Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]

Recent Actions

2026-06-23: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1377 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1181, H.R. 9022, H.R. 8595 and H.R. 9237. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1181 and H.R. 9237 under a closed rule and H.R. 9022 and H.R. 8595 under a structured rule. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.
2026-06-10: 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.
2026-06-10: 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.
2026-06-10: Introduced in House
2026-06-10: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Take Care of America’s Veterans Act — issued 2026-06-10 — PDF (554 pages)