H.R. 1413 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Feb 18, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryVA domiciliary facilities must hire resident advocates
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to hire a resident advocate at each of its domiciliary facilities—homes that provide housing for veterans. These advocates would listen to complaints from residents, pass them along to facility directors, and escalate serious issues to the VA's inspector general. State-run homes for veterans would also need to hire resident advocates in order to keep receiving VA payments.
How it affects you
If you're a veteran living in a VA domiciliary facility or a state-run veterans home, you'd have a dedicated person on staff whose job is to hear your concerns and help address them. This gives you a clearer path to voice problems and get them taken seriously.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Feb 18, 2025)
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to employ a resident advocate in each of its domiciliary facilities. The resident advocate must (1) serve as liaison between veterans in the facilities and the VA; (2) receive complaints from such veterans, transmit the complaints to the directors of the facilities, and respond to such complaints; and (3) submit complaints to the Office of Inspector General of the VA when appropriate.
Additionally, state homes must also employ a resident advocate in order to be eligible for payment from the VA for domiciliary care provided to a veteran. A state home is a home established by a state or tribe for veterans who are disabled by age, disease, or otherwise and are incapable of earning a living because of such disability. The term also includes a home that furnishes nursing home care for veterans.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 1413
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to require that domiciliary facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs and State homes that provide housing to veterans have resident advocates.
Sponsor: Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5) · Introduced Feb 18, 2025 · Armed Forces and National Security · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 21, 2025: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.”