H.R. 9665

119 HR 9665 IH: VA Police Security Enhancement Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-07-14
 text/xml
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 9665  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   July 14, 2026   Mr. Van Orden  introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Veterans' Affairs    A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the jurisdiction of Department of Veterans Affairs police officers, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   VA Police Security Enhancement Act  .
2.
Department of Veterans Affairs Police Security Enhancement
(a)
Department property
Section 901 of title 38, United States Code, is amended, in subsection (a)(2), by adding at the end the following:
Such term includes—
  (A) land and buildings that are occupied by or under the custody or control of the Department;  (B) land and buildings leased by or on behalf of the Department;  (C) land and buildings leased by the Department to another entity, including property subject to an enhanced use lease agreement; and  (D) the area immediately surrounding such land or buildings.   .
(b)
Memoranda of Understanding
Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(g)
The Secretary shall seek to enter into memoranda of understanding with the appropriate local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies to facilitate the exercise of authority by Department police officers on Department property under the jurisdiction of such agencies.
 .
(c)
Authorities of Department police officers
Section 902(a) of such title is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
in subparagraph (F), by striking  (E)  and inserting  (G) ;
(B)
by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (F) as subparagraphs (E) through (H), respectively; and
(C)
by inserting after clause (B) the following new clauses:
(C)
Protect veterans, officials and employees of the Department, other individuals, and Department property;
(D)
Ensure the physical security and operational continuity of facilities of the Department;
(E)
Carry out other such security functions as are expressly authorized by statute;
 ; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
(5)
The authorities under paragraph (1) may be exercised off Department property only when—
(A)
necessary to protect officials or employees of the Department and Department property;
(B)
in hot pursuit; or
(C)
pursuant to a written agreement under section 901(g) of this title.
  .
(d)
Facility security; oversight
Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:
(e)
Facility security modernization
The Secretary shall implement measures to enhance security at facilities of the Department, including—
(1)
access controls;
(2)
surveillance systems;
(3)
rapid response protocols; and
(4)
coordination with other law enforcement agencies.
(f)
Congressional oversight and report
(1)
Upon request of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives or the Senate, the Secretary, without delay or nonstatutory conditions, shall provide—
(A)
policies and directives under this chapter;
(B)
data on arrests and use of force by Department police officers; and
(C)
briefings regarding the operations of Department police officers.
(2)
The Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual report including—
(A)
a description of staffing levels of Department police officers;
(B)
an identification of capability gaps among Department police officers;
(C)
a description of the training of Department police officers; and
(D)
a description of enforcement activity of Department police officers in the year preceding the report.
 .
(e)
Police security and operations account
(1)
Establishment
Chapter 9 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
906.
Veterans Affairs Police and Security Operations Account
(a)
Establishment
There is hereby established in the Treasury a separate account to be known as the  Veterans Affairs Police and Security Operations Account .
(b)
Deposits
There shall be deposited in the account such amounts as may be appropriated pursuant to subsection (c).
(c)
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the account amounts for the following purposes:
(1)
Employment and training of Department police officers.
(2)
Security infrastructure.
(3)
Interagency coordination.
(d)
Sunset
This section shall cease to have effect on the date that is three years after the date of the enactment of this section.
 .
(2)
Clerical amendment
The table of contents at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
906. Veterans Affairs Police and Security Operations Account.
  .
(f)
Implementation
Not later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations to enforce the amendments made by this Act.
(g)
Report
Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report evaluating—
(1)
the effectiveness of the authorities provided under sections 901 and 902 of title 38, United States Code;
(2)
coordination with Federal, State, and local law enforcement;
(3)
the adequacy of the training and operational standards of Department of Veterans Affairs police officers; and
(4)
recommendations for the continuation, modification, or termination of the authorities provided under such sections.