S. 4229 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Mar 26, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySets VA standards for veteran appointment wait times
This bill asks the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a clear standard for how quickly veterans should be seen after they're referred for care. The VA would have to publish this standard publicly and report every quarter on how many referrals actually meet that target, whether the appointments happen at a VA facility or in the community.
How it affects you
Veterans would benefit from knowing what to expect when they need VA care and appointments. Right now there's no official standard, so this creates one and makes the VA accountable by tracking whether they're hitting their targets.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Mar 26, 2026)
Scheduling for Community Health and Easy Data to Understand for Legislators to Evaluate Services Act of 2026 or the SCHEDULES Act of 2026
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a standard for timing between the date on which a referral for VA care is entered into the VA's system and the date on which an appointment for care occurs, whether at a VA facility or through care in the community.
The VA must publish the standard in the Federal Register and on a publicly accessible VA website. Additionally, the VA must submit a report at least quarterly on the number and percentage of referrals that meet the new timing standard.
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 SessionS. 4229
A BILL
SCHEDULES Act of 2026
Sponsor: Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) · Introduced Mar 26, 2026 · Armed Forces and National Security · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 26, 2026: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.”