TOURS Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9376
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-18: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T16:20:10Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation, titled the Trauma Outreach, Understanding, and Resiliency through Spirituality Act (TOURS Act), aims to strengthen veteran suicide prevention efforts by codifying an existing annual report and requiring a study on how engagement with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) chaplain services and faith-based programs relates to suicide risk among veterans.
Key Provisions
- Codification of Annual Report: Amends section 1720F of title 38, United States Code, to require the VA Secretary, through the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, to produce an annual report on suicide prevention, submit it to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees, and provide an annual briefing on the most recent report.
- Study on Chaplain Services: Directs the Secretary to conduct a two-year study beginning no later than January 1, 2027, examining the relationship between veterans' engagement with the Chaplain Service and other faith-based programs and suicide risk.
- Study Scope: Requires identification of measurable engagement categories (such as group activities and outreach), tracking of mental health services involving chaplains and faith-based programs, data collection across VA facilities, analysis of correlations with mental health outcomes, and identification of effective programs.
- Protections and Limitations: Mandates informing veterans of data collection, prohibits compromising confidentiality of medical records or protected religious communications, and ensures chaplaincy services remain voluntary.
- Reporting Requirements: Requires annual reports to Congress within 90 days after each study year, including data summaries, trend analyses, lists of effective programs, and recommendations on data collection and resource allocation.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill adds a new subsection (l) to 38 U.S.C. § 1720F, formally codifying the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report and briefing process, which previously operated outside statutory requirement. It introduces new statutory mandates for data collection, analysis, and reporting on the intersection of chaplaincy services and suicide prevention.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases administrative responsibilities for the VA, including ongoing report production, briefings, and a multi-year study involving data tracking and analysis across facilities.
- On Citizens (Veterans): May enhance suicide prevention strategies by evaluating faith-based approaches, while protecting voluntary participation and confidentiality to encourage engagement.
- On International Relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Department of Veterans Affairs, particularly the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.
- Veterans who may engage with chaplain or faith-based services.
- Congressional Committees on Veterans' Affairs in both the Senate and House of Representatives, which receive reports and briefings.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The legislation emphasizes protections for confidentiality of religious communications and voluntary participation, addressing potential concerns around privacy and religious freedom. It integrates study of faith-based programs into federal veteran health policy without mandating their use, which could influence future resource allocation for mental health services while maintaining separation between government programs and religious activities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-18: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2026-06-18: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Trauma Outreach, Understanding, and Resiliency through Spirituality Act — issued 2026-06-18 — PDF (4 pages)