H.R. 3863

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3863 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>

Union Calendar No. 550
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3863

[Report No. 119-634]

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to furnish annual mental health consultations to 
certain veterans, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 10, 2025

Ms. Budzinski (for herself and Mr. Edwards) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

May 4, 2026

Additional sponsors: Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Cohen, and Ms. Goodlander

May 4, 2026

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 
10, 2025]

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to furnish annual mental health consultations to 
certain veterans, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``VA Mental Health Outreach and 
Engagement Act''.

SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATIONS AND OUTREACH TO A VETERAN RECEIVING 
COMPENSATION FOR A SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY RELATING 
TO A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS.

(a) Annual Consultation; Outreach.--The section 1167 of title 38, 
United States Code, relating to mental health consultations is 
amended--
(1) in subsection (a), in the subsection heading, by 
striking ``In General'' and inserting ``Initial Consultation'';
(2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections 
(d) and (e), respectively;
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
subsections:
``(b) Annual Consultation; Outreach.--Not less frequently than once 
each year, the Secretary shall, with regards to a veteran who is 
receiving compensation under this chapter for a service-connected 
disability relating to a mental health diagnosis--
``(1) offer a mental health consultation to assess the 
mental health needs of, and discuss other mental health care 
options for, the veteran; and
``(2) conduct outreach (unless a veteran elects not to 
receive such outreach)--
``(A) regarding the availability of consultations 
under paragraph (1) and other mental health services 
furnished by the Secretary; and
``(B) using methods described in subsection (c).
``(c) Outreach Methods.--Outreach methods described in this 
subsection consist of--
``(1) successfully contacting the veteran by telephone call 
or text message;
``(2) if the Secretary does not make such contact, not 
fewer than two telephone calls or text messages; or
``(3) if the Secretary does not have a telephone number for 
the veteran--
``(A) at least one email; or
``(B) if the Secretary does not have an email 
address for the veteran, at least one letter.'';
(4) in subsection (c), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by 
inserting ``or (b)'' after ``under subsection (a)'' both places 
it appears; and
(5) in subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by 
inserting ``, or to require the reevaluation of any entitlement 
of the veteran to compensation under this chapter'' before the 
period at the end.
(b) Technical Corrections.--
(1) Redesignation.--Such section, as amended, is 
redesignated as section 1169 of such title.
(2) Clerical amendments.--The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 11 of such title is amended--
(A) by striking the item relating to the section 
1167 that relates to mental health consultations; and
(B) by inserting after the item relating to section 
1168 the following new item:

``1169. Mental health consultations.''.
(c) Annual Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this section and annually thereafter for three additional 
years, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees 
on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a 
report regarding the outreach methods under subsection (c) of section 
1169 of such title. Elements of such report shall include the 
following:
(1) The respective rates of success, in attempting to 
contact veterans, for such methods.
(2) With regards to each such method, the number of times 
and percentage of attempts that the Secretary determined such 
attempt was unsuccessful.
(3) With regards to unsuccessful attempts described in 
paragraph (2), a breakdown of which other methods of outreach 
the Secretary used to attempt to contact veterans.
(4) With regards to each such method, the number of times 
and percentage of attempts that led to a veteran engaging with 
mental health services furnished by the Secretary.
(5) The number and percentage of veterans who elected not 
to receive such outreach.
(d) GAO Review.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and 
House of Representatives a report on the effect of the amendments made 
by this section. Elements of such report shall include--
(1) the number of veterans who received--
(A) mental health consultations under paragraph (1) 
of subsection (b) of section 1169 of such title;
(B) outreach under paragraph (2) of such 
subsection; and
(C) which outreach method under subsection (c) of 
such section was the most effective method to reach a 
veteran;
(2) whether veterans reported barriers to seeking such 
consultations; and
(3) such barriers, if any.

SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN HOUSING LOAN FEES.

The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ``June 9, 2034'' each place it appears and 
inserting ``May 12, 2035''.
Union Calendar No. 550

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 3863

[Report No. 119-634]

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to furnish annual mental health consultations to 
certain veterans, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

May 4, 2026

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed