H.R. 3726

119 HR 3726 EH: Fisher House Availability Act of 2026
 U.S. House of Representatives
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 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I
 119th CONGRESS  2d Session
 H. R. 3726
 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make temporary lodging facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs available for certain individuals on a space available basis, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Fisher House Availability Act of 2026  .
2.
Availability of Department of Veterans Affairs temporary lodging to certain individuals
Section 1708 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a), by striking  in connection with  and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting  in accordance with this section. ;
(2)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
by inserting  described in paragraph (1)  after  family of a veteran ; and
(ii)
by inserting  such  after  accompany ; and
(B)
by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
(3)
On a space-available basis, a covered beneficiary who must travel a significant distance to receive care or services at a Department or non-Department facility.
(4)
On a space-available basis, a member of the family of a covered beneficiary described in paragraph (3) and others who accompany such a covered beneficiary who is receiving care or services and provide the equivalent of familial support for such beneficiary when the covered beneficiary or the family member is traveling to receive care or services at a Department or non-Department facility.
(5)
On a space-available basis, a veteran and a member of the family of a veteran and others who must travel a significant distance for a member of the veteran’s family to receive care or services at a Department or non-Department facility.
(6)
On a space available basis, a covered beneficiary and a member of the family of a covered beneficiary and others who must travel a significant distance for a member of the covered beneficiary’s family to receive care or services at a Department or non-Department facility.
 ;
(3)
by striking subsection (c) and redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively;
(4)
in subsection (d), as so redesignated—
(A)
in paragraph (2), by striking  subsection (d)  and inserting  subsection (c) ;
(B)
in paragraph (3), by striking  under subsection (b)(2)  and inserting  or a covered beneficiary under subsection (b) ;
(C)
in paragraph (4), by striking  and  after the semicolon;
(D)
by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
(E)
by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph (5):
(5)
establishing criteria for providing access to temporary lodging facilities on a space-available basis under paragraphs (3) through (6) of subsection (b); and
 ; and
(5)
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(e)
In this section:
(1)
The term  covered beneficiary  means a member of the uniformed services performing active duty.
(2)
The term  Fisher house  means a housing facility that—
(A)
is located at, or in proximity to, a Department medical facility;
(B)
is available for residential use on a temporary basis by patients of that facility and others described in subsection (b); and
(C)
is constructed by, and donated to the Secretary by, the Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fisher Armed Services Foundation or the Fisher House Foundation, Inc.
 .
3.
Extension of certain limits on payments of pension
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking  January 31, 2033  and inserting  July 31, 2033 .
     Passed the House of Representatives May 19, 2026.  Kevin F. McCumber,  Clerk.