H.R. 9237 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned, Jun 10, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExpands benefits and care for America's veterans
This bill makes a range of changes to veterans' benefits and VA services. It allows certain retired service members to receive both disability compensation and military retirement pay, extends benefits to remarried surviving spouses, increases payments for dependents, and improves mental health support including expanded suicide prevention programs. It also updates housing allowances for apprenticeships, improves how the VA screens people for mental health care, and adjusts disability ratings for certain conditions.
How it affects you
Veterans and their surviving family members would see direct changes—from higher compensation payments to expanded access to mental health care and family caregiver support. If you're a veteran pursuing an apprenticeship, your housing allowance could increase. The bill also affects how the VA operates, with changes to hiring, infrastructure, and how the Veterans Community Care Program works.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jun 10, 2026)
Take Care of America's Veterans Act
This bill addresses veterans’ benefits, health care, counseling, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) personnel, VA infrastructure, and the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP).
The bill modifies various compensation programs for veterans, including by (1) allowing concurrent receipt of disability compensation and military retired pay for certain retirees with a combat-related disability, (2) extending entitlement for various benefits and services to remarried surviving spouses, (3) increasing the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation, and (4) establishing a supplemental monthly allowance for certain disabled veterans.
The bill also addresses VA education and training benefits, including by (1) modifying which independent study programs are covered under veterans’ educational assistance benefits, (2) requiring Transition Assistance Program counseling to include a presentation about VA benefits, and (3) increasing the housing allowance rate for individuals pursuing apprenticeships.
The bill revises health care provisions, including by (1) expanding support and assistance provided to family caregivers, (2) extending the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, and (3) expanding the scope of VA mental health research.
Among other elements, the bill
• revises VA disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus;
• expands eligibility for a memorial headstone or marker for the spouse, surviving spouse, child, or dependent of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces;
• addresses the administration of the VCCP and codifies the eligibility standards;
• establishes a standardized screening process for priority or routine admission to certain mental health care programs; and
• addresses VA personnel, hiring, and infrastructure matters.
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.
2nd SessionH. R. 9237
A BILL
Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL-12) · Introduced Jun 10, 2026 · Armed Forces and National Security · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jul 16, 2026: “POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced further proceedings on H.R. 9237 is postponed.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Motion to Recommit · Jul 16, 2026
Motion to Recommit Failed 210–211
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 207 | 0 | 5 |
| Independents | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Republicans | 3 | 210 | 5 |
3 members voted against most of their party: 3 Republicans voted Yes.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.
Sections
Sections · 1
Title I — Compensation · 13
- Sec. 101Major Richard Star ActNo change
- Sec. 102Love Lives On ActNo change
- Sec. 103Extension of increased dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses of veterans who die from amyotrophic lateral sclerosisNo change
- Sec. 104Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026No change
- Sec. 105Claims: prohibition on denial solely for certain reason; improved efficiency of adjudications and appealsNo change
- Sec. 106Annual report on causes of death among veteransNo change
- Sec. 107Plan for use of automation tools to process claims under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans AffairsNo change
- Sec. 108Reforms relating to Department of Veterans Affairs disability ratingsNo change
- Sec. 109Improvements to temporary licensure requirements for contract health care professionals who perform medical disability examinations for the Department of Veterans AffairsNo change
- Sec. 110Disability examinations: study on access in rural areas; review of training; review of inadequate or unnecessary examinationsNo change
- Sec. 111Improvements to processing and outreach regarding claims involving military sexual traumaNo change
- Sec. 112Independent assessment of notices that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs sends to claimantsNo change
- Sec. 113Independent assessment of forms that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs sends to claimantsNo change
Title II — Education and Economic Opportunity · 11
- Sec. 201Vets Opportunity ActNo change
- Sec. 202Improvements to process for making payments to automobile sellers for automobiles purchased for certain disabled veteransNo change
- Sec. 203Monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program for individuals who pursue summer programs of education solely through distance learningNo change
- Sec. 204Clarification regarding inclusion of medically necessary automobile adaptations in Department of Veterans Affairs definition of medical servicesNo change
- Sec. 205Digital communications: Solid Start program; educational assistanceNo change
- Sec. 206Improvements to Transition Assistance Program and SkillbridgeNo change
- Sec. 207Transition Assistance Program: presentation in preseparation counseling to promote benefits available to veteransNo change
- Sec. 208Elimination of requirement that on-campus educational and vocational counseling is provided by certain Department of Veterans Affairs employeesNo change
- Sec. 209Expansion of entitlement for payment for licensing or certification tests for veterans entitled to educational assistanceNo change
- Sec. 210Increase of amount of educational assistance paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for first year of a full-time program of apprenticeship or other on-job trainingNo change
- Sec. 211Improving emerging technology opportunities for veteransNo change
Title III — Health Care · 32
- Sec. 301Extension and modification of transportation grant program of Department of Veterans AffairsNo change
- Sec. 302Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement ActNo change
- Sec. 303Veterans TBI Breakthrough Exploration of Adaptive Care Opportunities Nationwide ActNo change
- Sec. 304Department of Veterans Affairs assignment of traveling physicians to serve territories and possessionsNo change
- Sec. 305Inclusion of adaptive prostheses and terminal devices for sports and other recreational activities in medical services furnished to eligible veterans by the Secretary of Veterans AffairsNo change
- Sec. 306Modifications to and reauthorization of Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program of Department of Veterans AffairsNo change
- Sec. 307Reports on the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapyNo change
- Sec. 308Department of Veterans Affairs pilot program to provide grants to mental health care providers for the provision of mental health care for veteransNo change
- Sec. 309Furnishing of certain health services to veterans in the Freely Associated StatesNo change
- Sec. 310Modification of Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative; reporting on suicide by veterans and members of the Armed ForcesNo change
- Sec. 311Establishment of the Blast Overpressure Task Force of the Department of Veterans AffairsNo change
- Sec. 312Extension of sharing of Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense Health Care Resources; resource sharing oversight and implementation planNo change
- Sec. 313Timely reporting of the death of a veteranNo change
- Sec. 314Expansion of access by veterans to critical access hospitals and affiliated clinics under the Veterans Community Care ProgramNo change
- Sec. 315Pilot platform for services for veterans; collection from veterans of information related to social determinants of healthNo change
- Sec. 316Improvements to Department of Veterans Affairs prosthetic and rehabilitative items and serviceNo change
- Sec. 317Improvement of submission of medical documentation to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by community care providersNo change
- Sec. 318Implementation of and report on efforts of Department of Veterans Affairs to improve health care appointment schedulingNo change
- Sec. 319Pilot program on coordination of care between Department of Veterans Affairs and Medicare programNo change
- Sec. 320Fisher House availabilityNo change
- Sec. 321Agreements between medical facilities of Department of Veterans Affairs and rural medical facilitiesNo change
- Sec. 322Study on quality of care difference between mental health and addiction therapy care provided by health care providers of Department of Veterans Affairs compared to non-Department providersNo change
- Sec. 323Lactation spaces in medical centers of the Department of Veterans AffairsNo change
- Sec. 324Research related to menopause, perimenopause, and mid-life women’s health: report; planNo change
- Sec. 325Pilot program on provision of opioid rescue medications to veteransNo change
- Sec. 326Establishment of Veterans Health Administration Policy Advisory CommissionNo change
- Sec. 327Access to health careNo change
- Sec. 328Research on health conditions of descendants of toxic-exposed veteransNo change
- Sec. 329Veterans Spinal Trauma Access to New Devices ActNo change
- Sec. 330Department of Veterans Affairs pilot program to award grants for the provision of service dogs to veteransNo change
- Sec. 331Authorization of major medical facility project of Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2027 in Manchester, New HampshireNo change
- Sec. 332Bowel and bladder care program of Department of Veterans AffairsNo change
Title IV — Organization · 7
- Sec. 401Authorization of appropriations to the Office of Information and Technology of the Department of Veterans Affairs for certain purposesNo change
- Sec. 402Establishment of Under Secretary for Management and Chief Financial OfficerNo change
- Sec. 403Department of Veterans Affairs acquisition reform and cost assessmentNo change
- Sec. 404Improvement of telephone communication by Department of Veterans AffairsNo change
- Sec. 405Advancing Department of Veterans Affairs emergency response to crisisNo change
- Sec. 406Membership of Department of Veterans Affairs Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory CommitteeNo change
- Sec. 407Scheduling of appointments under the Veterans Community Care ProgramNo change
Title V — Memorial Affairs · 3
- Sec. 501Expansion of eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs memorial headstone or marker for certain individualsNo change
- Sec. 502Department of Veterans Affairs provision of additional burial benefits when an urn or commemorative plaque is furnishedNo change
- Sec. 503Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration ProgramNo change
Title VI — Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers · Subtitle A — Improvement of Veterans Community Care Program · 13
- Sec. 601Codification of requirements for eligibility standards for access to community care from Department of Veterans AffairsNo change
- Sec. 602Requirement that Secretary notify veterans of eligibility for care or denial of request for care under Veterans Community Care ProgramNo change
- Sec. 603Consideration under Veterans Community Care Program of continuity of care and need for caregiver or attendantNo change
- Sec. 604Discussion of telehealth options under Veterans Community Care ProgramNo change
- Sec. 605Extension of deadline for submittal of claims by health care entities and providers under prompt payment standardNo change
- Sec. 606Audit of representative sample of veterans receiving care and services under Veterans Community Care ProgramNo change
- Sec. 607Information on wait time and drive time options for receipt of care by veteransNo change
- Sec. 608Establishment of period during which a referral under Veterans Community Care Program remains validNo change
- Sec. 609Updates to contracting requirements under Veterans Community Care ProgramNo change
- Sec. 610Publication of community care network sufficiency and payment waiver requests and approvalsNo change
- Sec. 611Requirements relating to quality of community care providersNo change
- Sec. 612Provider trainingNo change
- Sec. 613Oversight authority over community careNo change
Title VI — Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers · Subtitle B — Mental Health Treatment Programs · 2
Title VI — Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers · Subtitle C — Staffing Matters · 9
- Sec. 631Treatment of psychologistsNo change
- Sec. 632Mentorship program for executive leadership teams at medical centers of the Department of Veterans AffairsNo change
- Sec. 633Requirement for equivalent role postings for vacant positions at Department of Veterans AffairsNo change
- Sec. 634Improvements to Department of Veterans Affairs hiring processesNo change
- Sec. 635Department of Veterans Affairs telework policyNo change
- Sec. 636Expansion of reimbursement of continuing professional education expensesNo change
- Sec. 637Department of Veterans Affairs personnel transparencyNo change
- Sec. 638Modification of authority of licensure of health care professionals providing treatment via telemedicineNo change
- Sec. 639Provision of data on educational assistance programs of Veterans Health AdministrationNo change
Title VI — Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers · Subtitle D — Optimization of Workforce · 4
Title VI — Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers · Subtitle E — Veterans Infrastructure and Transformation · 14
- Sec. 651Short titleNo change
- Sec. 652Modification of authority for sharing of health-care resources of Department of Veterans Affairs to include flexible space utilization and streamlined service agreementsNo change
- Sec. 653Use of commercial construction and facilities code and standardsNo change
- Sec. 654Feasibility study for full-service hospital of Department of Veterans Affairs in certain StatesNo change
- Sec. 655Report on strategic plan for infrastructure and capital assets of Department of Veterans AffairsNo change
- Sec. 656Permanent extension of pilot program on acceptance by the Department of Veterans affairs of donated facilities and related improvementsNo change
- Sec. 657Authority to accept donations of construction services, minor construction or nonrecurring maintenance projects, and targeted contributionsNo change
- Sec. 658Report on use of additional authorities relating to recruitment and retention of personnelNo change
- Sec. 659Reports on key capital asset investments, activities, and performance of Department of Veterans AffairsNo change
- Sec. 660Development of streamlined procurement model; reportNo change
- Sec. 661Submission and notification of cost estimates for medical facility leasesNo change
- Sec. 662Report on capital asset and information technology needs of the research and development program of Department of Veterans AffairsNo change
- Sec. 663Improving prevention, detection, and reporting of waste, fraud, and abuse in Department of Veterans Affairs capital asset projects and activitiesNo change
- Sec. 664Report on long-term care physical infrastructure needs of Department of Veterans AffairsNo change
Title VI — Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers · Subtitle F — Other Health Care Matters · 6
- Sec. 671Prescription, delivery, distribution, and dispensation of controlled substance medications by covered health care professionals of Department of Veterans Affairs via telemedicineNo change
- Sec. 672Copayments for limited supplies of medicationsNo change
- Sec. 673Plan on establishment of interactive, online self-service module for careNo change
- Sec. 674Modification of requirements for Center for Innovation for Care and Payment of the Department of Veterans Affairs and transfer of authorityNo change
- Sec. 675Report on improvements to clinical appeals processNo change
- Sec. 676Plan on increasing accessibility of care for veterans with spinal cord injury or disorderNo change