H.R. 1823 · Where this bill is now
Became law
Public Law 119-71, Jan 20, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryOrders investigation into VA funding gaps
This act tells the Government Accountability Office—an independent group that investigates federal agencies—to look into why the Veterans Benefits Administration ran short on money in 2024 and why the Veterans Health Administration is expected to fall short in 2025. After that, they'll keep checking on VA funding for the next five years and report their findings to Congress.
How it affects you
If you're a veteran or someone who depends on VA benefits or healthcare, this doesn't change your benefits directly right now. What it does is push for answers about why money is disappearing, which could lead to fixes down the road so the VA has what it needs to serve veterans better.
Read the official summary (Public Law, Jan 20, 2026)
VA Budget Shortfall Accountability Act
This act requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review and report on the circumstances and causes of the shortfall in funding of the Veterans Benefits Administration for FY2024 and the expected shortfall in funding of the Veterans Health Administration in FY2025. The Department of Veterans Affairs must submit such GAO report to Congress. For each of the five fiscal years following the date of enactment of this act, GAO must conduct subsequent reviews and reports regarding the funding of the VA.
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. 1823
AN ACT
VA Budget Shortfall Accountability Act
Sponsor: Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI-1) · Introduced Mar 4, 2025 · Armed Forces and National Security · 5 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 20, 2026: “Became Public Law No: 119-71.”