H.R. 658 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Feb 2, 2026. Received Feb 3, 2026; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySets qualifications for VA marriage and family therapists
Ever wondered what credentials someone needs to supervise therapists at the Veterans Health Administration? This bill creates official requirements for marriage and family therapists working in the VA who supervise other therapists. They must have a master's degree, be licensed or certified in their state, and either be authorized to provide supervision where they're licensed or be approved as a supervisor by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
How it affects you
This change affects veterans who receive marriage and family therapy services at the VA, because it sets standards for who can supervise the therapists treating them. It also affects VA employees who work as marriage and family therapists, by clarifying what qualifications they need to advance into supervisory roles.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jan 23, 2025)
This bill establishes eligibility requirements for the appointment of an individual in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) as a marriage and family therapist who is qualified to provide clinical supervision. In order to be appointed as a marriage and family therapist in the VHA who is qualified to provide clinical supervision, a person must hold an appropriate master’s degree, be licensed or certified, and (1) be authorized to provide clinical supervision in the state they are licensed in, or (2) be designated as an approved supervisor by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
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. 658
AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish qualifications for the appointment of a person as a marriage and family therapist, qualified to provide clinical supervision, in the Veterans Health Administration.
Sponsor: Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA-26) · Introduced Jan 23, 2025 · Armed Forces and National Security · 4 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Feb 3, 2026: “Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.”