H.R. 5943

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5943 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5943

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a Task Force 
on Complementary and Integrative Health/Whole Health, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 7, 2025

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

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a Task Force 
on Complementary and Integrative Health/Whole Health, 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 ``Transforming Healing, Resilience, 
and Integrative Veteran Engagement Act of 2025'' or the ``THRIVE Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRATIVE HEALTH.

(a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish a task force, to be known as the ``Task Force on 
Complementary and Integrative Health/Whole Health''.
(b) Members.--The task force shall be composed of the following 
individuals or their designees:
(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who shall serve as 
the Chair.
(2) The Executive Director of the Office of Mental Health 
and Suicide Prevention of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(3) The Director of the Research and Development Office of 
the Department.
(4) The Executive Director of the Office of Patient-
Centered Care and Cultural Transformation of the Department.
(5) At least one representative from an academic 
institution who specializes in complementary and integrative 
health research.
(6) At least one clinician of the Department who has 
experience treating veterans with one or more of the following 
conditions:
(A) Post-traumatic stress disorder.
(B) Traumatic brain injury.
(C) Depression.
(D) Anxiety.
(7) At least one representative from a veterans service 
organization focused on--
(A) treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, 
depression, and anxiety; or
(B) suicide prevention.
(8) At least one representative from another relevant 
organization involved in researching, diagnosing, or treating 
post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, 
depression, anxiety, or suicide prevention that the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs determines is necessary.
(9) At least one representative from a community-based 
program with demonstrated success in improving veterans' mental 
health and well-being through complementary, integrative, or 
peer-led approaches.
(c) Responsibilities.--The task force shall carry out the following 
responsibilities:
(1) Assessing the current access of veterans who receive 
medical care at Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
facilities to complementary and integrative health/whole health 
therapies and program for veterans and how to make such 
therapies and programs more accessible to such veterans at such 
facilities.
(2) Developing a framework to determine--
(A) the effectiveness of complementary and 
integrative health therapies, including acupuncture, 
biofeedback, clinical hypnosis, guided imagery, massage 
therapy, meditation, tai chi, qigong, and yoga, peer-
supported programs, and health and wellness coaching 
programs as treatments for post-traumatic stress 
disorder, traumatic brain injury, depression, and 
anxiety, and for suicide prevention; and
(B) whether and how the Department of Veterans 
Affairs should expand or modify access to such 
therapies and programs.
(3) Identifying gaps in research and implementation of 
complementary and integrative health/whole health therapies at 
Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, including 
gaps in knowledge of effectiveness or safety, provider 
training, and availability of services.
(4) Determining how to integrate emerging complementary and 
integrative health/whole health therapies, including peer-led 
models and health and wellness coaching models, into the 
continuum of care of the Department.
(5) Analyzing any factors contributing to treatment 
dropout, low retention, or relapse among veterans and how the 
Department can improve outcomes for such veterans.
(6) Identifying any additional resources or authorities the 
Department needs from Congress to improve accessibility of 
complementary and integrative health/whole health therapies.
(d) Recommendations.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
establishment of the task force, the task force shall submit to the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs the recommendations of the task force 
with respect to the responsibilities under subsection (c).
(e) Reporting.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
on which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs receives the 
recommendations of the task force under subsection (d), the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs 
of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on such 
recommendations.
(2) Final report.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of submission of the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' 
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
containing a plan to address such recommendations.
(f) Termination.--The task force shall terminate on the date on 
which the task force submits the recommendations to the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs under subsection (d).
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The terms ``peer-led model'' and ``peer-supported 
program'' mean a program or approach in which veterans with 
lived experience are trained and engaged to provide counseling, 
mentoring, training, or support services to other veterans, as 
a complement or alternative to services provided by clinical 
professionals.
(2) The term ``community-based program''--
(A) means a program providing health or wellness 
services that is operated by a non-governmental or 
nonprofit entity in a local community setting, rather 
than directly by a Federal agency; and
(B) includes programs that receive funding from the 
Department of Veterans Affairs through grant programs 
or partnerships to enhance veterans' mental health, 
suicide prevention, or overall well-being.
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