S. 214 - MEDAL Act of 2025

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Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-86.

May 21, 2025

HearingSenateMeeting

May 21, 2025 · 20:00

Hearings to examine S.214, to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the rate of the special pension payable to Medal of Honor recipients, S.219, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to improve the ability of veterans to access medical care in medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs and in the community by providing veterans the ability to choose health care providers, S.506, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to coordinate, navigate, and manage care and benefits for veterans enrolled in both the Medicare program and the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.585, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a pre-transition health care registration process to facilitate enrollment in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs by members of the Armed Forces who are separating from the Armed Forces, S.599, to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the mileage rate offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs through their Beneficiary Travel program for health related travel, S.605, to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program, S.635, to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recognize nurse registries for purposes of the Veterans Community Care Program, S.649, to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to members of the National Guard who perform certain full-time duty, S.778, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require a lactation space in each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.784, to expand and modify the grant program of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in highly rural areas, S.800, to modify the Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.827, to extend and modify the transportation grant program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.879, to expand medical, employment, and other benefits for individuals serving as family caregivers for certain veterans, S.1318, to direct the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a program to identify American-Jewish servicemembers buried in United States military cemeteries overseas under markers that incorrectly represent their religion and heritage, S.1320, to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take certain steps regarding research related to menopause, perimenopause, or mid-life women's health, S.1383, to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, S.1441, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to nonprofit entities to assist such entities in carrying out programs to provide service dogs to eligible veterans, S.1533, to amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent and codify the pilot program for use of contract physicians for disability examinations, S.1543, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and S.1591, to amend title 38, United States Code, to reorganize the acquisition structure of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to establish the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation in the Department.

Committee

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs

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Summary

The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a hearing on May 22, 2025, to examine 20 separate bills aimed at improving benefits and services for veterans and their families. The bills covered a wide range of veteran-related issues, including increasing pension rates for Medal of Honor recipients, expanding healthcare access through pilot programs that would allow veterans to choose providers and coordinate care for those enrolled in both Medicare and VA systems, establishing pre-transition health care registration for separating service members, increasing mileage reimbursement for health-related travel, and extending the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program. Additional bills addressed specialized veteran needs such as establishing lactation spaces in VA medical centers, expanding transportation options in rural areas, supporting family caregivers for veterans, providing service dogs to eligible veterans, and recognizing nurse registries for the Veterans Community Care Program. Other proposals included expanding educational assistance for National Guard members, researching women's health issues relevant to veterans, identifying Jewish servicemembers buried under incorrect religious markers, establishing a Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, and reorganizing the VA's acquisition structure. No witnesses were listed for this hearing. The bills represent a comprehensive legislative agenda addressing healthcare access, financial support, caregiver assistance, and administrative improvements within the Department of Veterans Affairs. A hearing does not guarantee that any of these bills will advance to further consideration or passage.