Bill text replaced
This bill's text was replaced via an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Some metadata (subjects, policy area, committees) may reflect the original bill and not the current text.
Summary
The Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2025 would expand an existing Department of Veterans Affairs program focused on mental health research. If enacted, the bill would broaden the program's scope to identify and validate biological markers for brain and mental health conditions affecting veterans, including effects from repetitive low-level blast exposure and dementia, in addition to conditions like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder that the program currently addresses.
Under this bill, the VA would be required to partner with the Department of Defense to share data and conduct multiple research studies on blast exposure effects. The VA would also contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to validate brain health biomarkers and report findings to Congress every two years. The bill would authorize funding for this expanded initiative through fiscal year 2034.
The bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a floor vote in the Senate. If enacted, it could lead to better understanding and treatment of brain injuries and mental health conditions in veterans, though the practical benefits would depend on the research findings and any resulting medical advances.
AI-generated summary
Lifecycle of the Bill
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.
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.
Video
Watch videoCommittee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 30, 2025
HearingSenateMeeting
Jul 30, 2025 · 20:00
Business meeting to consider S.275, to improve the provision of care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 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.607, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an integrated project team to improve the process for scheduling appointments for health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.610, to expand the VetSuccess on Campus program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 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.654, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an external provider scheduling program to assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in scheduling appointments for care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program, S.702, to require a study on the quality of care difference between mental health and addiction therapy care provided by health care providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs compared to non-Department providers, 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.787, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a commission to review operations at the Veterans Health Administration and submit to Congress reports with respect to that review, and for other programs, 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.831, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve telephone communication by the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.879, to expand medical, employment, and other benefits for individuals serving as family caregivers for certain veterans, S.972, to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made by such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, S.1139, to amend the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 to modify and reauthorize the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.1245, to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand health care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for military sexual trauma, 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.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, S.2392, to increase, effective as of December 1, 2025, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and S.2393, to authorize a major medical facility project for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Summary
The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a business meeting on July 30, 2025 to consider 24 bills aimed at improving veterans' care and benefits. The bills addressed a wide range of issues affecting veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs, including improvements to the Veterans Community Care Program, coordination of care for seniors enrolled in both Medicare and VA, mental health and addiction therapy quality assessments, expansion of the VetSuccess on Campus program, and lactation spaces in VA medical centers. Additional bills focused on family caregiver benefits, military sexual trauma care, service dog programs, disability compensation increases, and facility improvements. As a business meeting rather than a hearing with external witnesses, the session was focused on committee consideration of the legislation rather than testimony from outside parties. The bills covered diverse veteran needs including mental health support, education and employment assistance, women's health research, religious heritage recognition for fallen servicemembers, and accessibility improvements. Business meetings of this type allow committees to review and potentially advance legislation, though consideration in committee does not guarantee a bill will be voted on or passed by the full Senate.
Video
Watch videoCommittee 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.
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.
Video
Watch videoCommittee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 30, 2025
HearingSenateMeeting
Jul 30, 2025 · 20:00
Business meeting to consider S.275, to improve the provision of care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 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.607, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an integrated project team to improve the process for scheduling appointments for health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.610, to expand the VetSuccess on Campus program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 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.654, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an external provider scheduling program to assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in scheduling appointments for care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program, S.702, to require a study on the quality of care difference between mental health and addiction therapy care provided by health care providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs compared to non-Department providers, 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.787, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a commission to review operations at the Veterans Health Administration and submit to Congress reports with respect to that review, and for other programs, 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.831, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve telephone communication by the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.879, to expand medical, employment, and other benefits for individuals serving as family caregivers for certain veterans, S.972, to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made by such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, S.1139, to amend the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 to modify and reauthorize the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.1245, to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand health care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for military sexual trauma, 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.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, S.2392, to increase, effective as of December 1, 2025, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and S.2393, to authorize a major medical facility project for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Summary
The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a business meeting on July 30, 2025 to consider 24 bills aimed at improving veterans' care and benefits. The bills addressed a wide range of issues affecting veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs, including improvements to the Veterans Community Care Program, coordination of care for seniors enrolled in both Medicare and VA, mental health and addiction therapy quality assessments, expansion of the VetSuccess on Campus program, and lactation spaces in VA medical centers. Additional bills focused on family caregiver benefits, military sexual trauma care, service dog programs, disability compensation increases, and facility improvements. As a business meeting rather than a hearing with external witnesses, the session was focused on committee consideration of the legislation rather than testimony from outside parties. The bills covered diverse veteran needs including mental health support, education and employment assistance, women's health research, religious heritage recognition for fallen servicemembers, and accessibility improvements. Business meetings of this type allow committees to review and potentially advance legislation, though consideration in committee does not guarantee a bill will be voted on or passed by the full Senate.
Video
Watch videoCongress
119th Congress
Introduced
Feb 27, 2025
