H.R. 2970

119 HR 2970 IH: National Veterans Advocate Act of 2025
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-04-17
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 2970  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   April 17, 2025   Mr. Yakym  introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Veterans' Affairs    A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the laws relating to advocacy for veterans who receive health care and other benefits furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   National Veterans Advocate Act of 2025  .
2.
Independent Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate in Department of Veterans Affairs
(a)
In general
Section 7309A of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
by striking the section heading and inserting the following new section heading:
7309A.
Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate
 ;
(2)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
by striking  within the Office of the Under Secretary for Health ;
(B)
by striking  an office  and inserting  an independent office ; and
(C)
by striking   Office of Patient Advocacy   and inserting   Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate  ;
(3)
by striking  patient advocate  each place it appears and inserting  veteran advocate ;
(4)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following new paragraph (1):
(1)
The Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate shall be under the supervision and direction of an official to be known as the “National Veterans’ Advocate”. The National Veterans’ Advocate shall report directly to the Secretary and shall be entitled to compensation at the same rate as the highest rate of basic pay established for the Senior Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5, United States Code.
 ; and
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
by striking  Office of Patient Advocacy  and inserting  Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate ;
(ii)
by striking  by the Under Secretary for Health  and inserting  by the Secretary ; and
(iii)
by striking  shall report directly to the Under Secretary for Health  and inserting  shall be independent of the Secretary ;
(5)
by striking  Director  each place it appears and inserting  National Veterans’ Advocate ;
(6)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
by striking the subsection heading and inserting  (c)
Functions .— ;
(B)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
by striking  function  and inserting  functions ;
(ii)
by striking  is  and inserting  are ; and
(iii)
by inserting before the period at the end the following:  and to monitor Department processes and make recommendations to Congress on how to improve the Department’s efficiency and care for veterans ;
(C)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in subparagraph (B), by striking  and  after the semicolon;
(ii)
in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and
(iii)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
(D)
identify areas in which veterans have problems in dealings with the Department;
(E)
to the extent possible, propose changes in the administrative practices of the Department to mitigate problems identified under subparagraph (D); and
(F)
identify potential legislative changes which may be appropriate to mitigate such problems.
 ;
(D)
in paragraph (3)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  and  after the semicolon;
(ii)
by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);
(iii)
by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph (B):
(B)
fill out forms to relating to casework problem that facilitate the rapid assignment of a local veteran advocate caseworker who can directly interface with the veteran if needed; and
 ; and
(iv)
in subparagraph (C), as redesignated by clause (ii), by inserting  or forms  after  complaint  both times it appears;
(E)
by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
(4)
The Office shall have the authority to manage casework issues across the Department.
(5)
(A)
Not later than March 30 and September 30 of each year, the National Veterans’ Advocate shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the operations of the Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate. Each such report shall include—
(i)
a description of the activities of the Office carried out pursuant so subsection (c)(2)(D) through (F); and
(ii)
independent legislative recommendations for the improvement of health outcomes for veterans, the quality of health care and benefits provided by the Department, and the cost efficiency of the Department.
(B)
Recommendations included in a report under this paragraph may not be reviewed by the Secretary or by any other official of the Department prior to submission.
(C)
Each report under this paragraph shall be transmitted to the Secretary and made publicly available on the website the National Veterans’ Advocate.
(6)
The Office shall have a designated publicly accessible website that includes access to the information technology system required under paragraph (3).
 ;
(7)
in subsection (d)—
(A)
in the subsection heading, by striking
Patient advocacy   and inserting
Veteran advocacy  ; and
(B)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(15)
In coordination with the recommendation team, to identify problems experienced within the Department in the course of providing hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care and burial and interment benefits to veterans and to develop recommendations to address such problems.
 ;
(8)
in subsection (e)—
(A)
by striking  shall ensure that such training is consistent throughout the Department.  and inserting  shall— ;
(B)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
(A)
develop the curriculum for such training in coordination with the Under Secretary for Benefits, the Under Secretary for Health, the Director of each of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks, and veterans service organizations;
(B)
ensure that each veteran advocate is required to receive such training on an annual basis;
(C)
ensure that such training includes up-to-date information on Department policy, crisis management, health care, and such other matters as the Secretary determines appropriate; and
(D)
ensure that such training is consistent throughout the Department.
 ;
(9)
by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (l); and
(10)
by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsections:
(f)
Deputy National Veterans’ Advocates
(1)
There is in each Veterans Integrated Service Network (hereinafter referred to as a  VISN ) a Deputy National Veterans’ Advocate who shall have responsibility for managing the employees of the Office with primary responsibility for casework.
(2)
The Deputy National Veterans’ Advocate for a VISN shall ensure that for the geographic area served by that VISN, the Department employs at least one veteran advocate for every 12,000 veterans who reside in such area and are enrolled in the patient enrollment system under section 1705 of this title.
(g)
Office employees
The Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate shall have employees in the Washington, D.C., office in the Department. Such employees shall carry out the responsibilities under subsection (c)(2)(D) through (F), coordinate with Deputy National Veterans’ Advocates and veteran advocates, and carry out such other responsibilities as the National Veterans’ Advocate determines appropriate.
(h)
Casework request portal
The National Veterans’ Advocate shall establish, on the website of the National Veterans’ Advocate, a casework request portal that veterans can use to request assistance with casework.
(i)
Outreach
The Secretary shall conduct outreach to veterans receiving benefits under the laws administrated by the Secretary to provide information to such veterans about the Office and the assistance available to veterans through the Office.
(j)
Coordination To improve policies
The Secretary, the National Veterans’ Advocate, the Under Secretary for Health, and the Under Secretary for Benefits shall—
(1)
work closely together on a continual basis to improve the policies of the Department without the necessity for congressional action; and
(2)
communicate frequently to ensure such improvement.
(k)
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
 .
(b)
Clerical amendment
The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 7309A and inserting the following new item:
7309A. Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate.
  .