H.R. 4114

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4114 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4114

To amend title 38, United States Code, to automatically enroll eligible 
veterans in the patient enrollment system of Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 24, 2025

Mr. Takano introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to automatically enroll eligible 
veterans in the patient enrollment system of Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 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 ``Ensuring Veterans' Smooth Transition 
Act'' or the ``EVEST Act''.

SEC. 2. AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT OF ELIGIBLE VETERANS IN PATIENT ENROLLMENT 
SYSTEM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

(a) In General.--Section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d)(1) The Secretary shall enroll each veteran described in 
subsection (a) in the patient enrollment system under this section not 
later than 60 days after receiving the information described in 
paragraph (2) regarding the veteran.
``(2) The information described in this paragraph is the 
information--
``(A) regarding a veteran that the Secretary determines is 
necessary to so enroll a veteran; and
``(B) transmitted to the Secretary under section 1142(e) of 
title 10.
``(3) Not later than 60 days after enrolling a veteran under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide to the veteran--
``(A) notice of such enrollment;
``(B) instructions regarding how the veteran may opt out of 
such enrollment;
``(C) instructions regarding how the veteran may elect to 
enroll at a later date.
``(4) In carrying out paragraph (3), the Secretary shall--
``(A) provide a notice or instructions in the form of a 
physical copy delivered by mail and, to the extent practical, 
in the form of an electronic copy delivered by electronic mail; 
and
``(B) consider using, to the extent practical, mass texting 
capabilities through mobile telephones.''.
(b) Applicability.--Subsection (d) of section 1705 of title 38, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply to a 
veteran--
(1) who is discharged or separated from the Armed Forces on 
or after the date that is 90 days before the date of the 
enactment of this Act; and
(2) with respect to whom the Secretary receives the 
information described in paragraph (2) of such subsection on or 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Electronic Certificates of Eligibility.--Not later than August 
1, 2026, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that any 
veteran who is eligible for automatic enrollment in the patient 
enrollment system under subsection (d) of section 1705 of title 38, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a), is able to access--
(1) an electronic version of the veteran's certificate of 
eligibility for such enrollment; and
(2) an electronic mechanism by which the veteran may opt 
out of such enrollment.
(d) Report on Automatic Enrollment.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the first 
veteran is enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs under subsection (d) of section 
1705 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a report on the enrollment process under such 
subsection. Such report shall include each of the following:
(A) A discussion of any anticipated challenges that 
occurred in implementing such subsection, the 
strategies used to address such challenges, and the 
effectiveness of such strategies.
(B) A discussion of any unanticipated challenges 
that occurred in implementing such subsection, the 
strategies used to address such challenges, and the 
effectiveness of such strategies.
(C) Any additional information the Secretary 
determines appropriate, including information that may 
be useful to other Federal departments and agencies 
considering the implementation of similar automatic 
enrollment programs.
(2) Form of report.--The report required under paragraph 
(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a 
classified annex.

SEC. 3. GAO REPORT ON NOTICE OF AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT IN PATIENT 
ENROLLMENT SYSTEM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a report containing the results of a study to determine 
the best methods for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide 
notice under paragraph (3) of subsection (d) of section 1705 of title 
38, United States Code, as added by section 2. In making such 
determination, the Comptroller General shall consider the needs of a 
veteran based on--
(1) age;
(2) residence in an urban area; and
(3) residence in an rural area.
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