U.S. Vets of the FAS Act
Summary
H.R. 6652, the U.S. Vets of the FAS Act, would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to furnish certain health services to veterans residing in the Freely Associated States. Specifically, the bill would mandate that the VA provide telehealth and mail-order pharmacy services to these veterans. The legislation would also establish a clear timeline for the VA to finalize agreements with the governments of the Freely Associated States, strengthen beneficiary travel payments for veterans in those territories, and require quarterly reporting to Congress to ensure accountability in the implementation of these services. If enacted, the bill would expand VA healthcare access to a population of veterans who currently face geographic barriers to receiving care.
AI-generated summary
Lifecycle of the Bill
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jan 13, 2026
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Jan 13, 2026
Jan 13, 2026 · 19:15
Legislative Hearing on: Discussion Draft: the “BEACON Act”; H.R.6444, the “Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act”; H.R.6526, the “Clarity on Care Options Act”; Discussion Draft: the “Data Driven Suicide Prevention Act”; H.R. 2283, the “RECOVER Act”; Discussion Draft: the “Health Desert Reform Act”; H.R. 2426, the “Veterans Mental Health and Addiction Therapy Quality of Care Act”; H.R 6652: the “US Vets of the FAS Act”; H.R. 4509, the “NOPAIN for Veterans Act”; H.R. 5999, To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish an opioid antagonist to a veteran without requiring a prescription or copayment; H.R. 6001, the “Veterans with ALS Reporting Act”; Discussion Draft: the “Whole Health for Veterans Act.”
Committee
HealthSummary
On January 14, 2026, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health held a legislative hearing examining multiple bills aimed at expanding and improving mental health care for veterans. The hearing covered H.R. 2426, the Veterans Mental Health and Addiction Therapy Quality of Care Act, which would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to commission an independent study comparing the quality of mental health and addiction therapy care provided by VA healthcare providers to non-VA providers. The hearing also examined H.R. 2283, the RECOVER Act, which would establish a three-year pilot program awarding grants of up to $1.5 million to nonprofit organizations providing evidence-based mental health care to veterans at no cost. Additional bills on the agenda addressed blast overpressure research, opioid antagonist access for veterans, veterans with ALS, and other health-related initiatives. Witnesses included officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs, representatives from veteran service organizations including Mission Roll Call and the Wounded Warrior Project, and policy experts. The hearing reflected bipartisan concern about veteran suicide rates and gaps in mental health service access, with discussion of how community-based organizations and VA services can work together to improve care. A legislative hearing does not guarantee that bills will advance to a vote.
Video
Witnesses(6)
| Name | Position | Links |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Maria LlorenteU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | Acting Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Integrated Veteran Care | |
| Dr. Mark KoenigerU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | Acting Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Patient Care Services | |
| Mr. James WhaleyMission Roll Call | Chief Executive Officer | |
| Ms. Elizabeth McCoyWounded Warrior Project | Associate Director of Government Affairs | |
| Ms. K. SmithAmerican Psychological Associatio | Deputy Chief, Military & Veterans Policy | |
| The Honorable Charles PaulEmbassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands | Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary |
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Apr 16, 2026
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Apr 16, 2026
Apr 16, 2026 · 10:15
H.R. 2283, the “Recognizing Community Organizations for Veteran Engagement and Recovery Act”; H.R. 6993, the “BEACON Act of 2026”; H.R.6652, the “U.S. Vets of the FAS Act”; H.R.6444, the “Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act”; H.R.5999, “To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish an opioid antagonist to a veteran without requiring a prescription or copayment”; H.R.6848, the “Whole Health for Veterans Act”; H.R.6001, the “Veterans with ALS Reporting Act”
Committee
HealthSummary
On April 16, 2026, the House Health Committee held a legislative hearing in the Cannon House Office Building to consider a package of seven bills aimed at improving services for U.S. veterans. The legislation covers a broad range of medical and social issues, including H.R. 6001, which addresses ALS reporting requirements, and H.R. 6444, which proposes a task force to research and mitigate the effects of blast overpressure on service members. Other bills, such as H.R. 5999, seek to increase veteran access to life-saving opioid antagonists by removing prescription and copayment barriers. The hearing also focused on expanding community-based support and specialized care. H.R. 2283 and H.R. 6848 emphasize community engagement and a whole-health approach to veteran recovery, while H.R. 6652 specifically addresses the needs of veterans from the Freely Associated States. Additionally, the BEACON Act of 2026 (H.R. 6993) was presented as part of the committee's effort to modernize and streamline the Department of Veterans Affairs' healthcare delivery systems. As this was a legislative hearing, the committee's primary goal was to gather information and evaluate the potential impact of these proposals. While the session allowed members to discuss the merits of each bill, the hearing itself does not guarantee that any of the legislation will advance to a full committee vote or reach the House floor. The next steps involve the committee reviewing the testimony and deciding whether to mark up the bills for further consideration.
