H.R. 6017

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6017 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6017

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to issue to a veteran a Veterans Bill of Rights, and 
for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 10, 2025

Mr. Van Drew (for himself and Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to issue to a veteran a Veterans Bill of Rights, 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 ``Veterans Bill of Rights Act''.

SEC. 2. VETERANS BILL OF RIGHTS.

(a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 63 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section 
(and the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
accordingly):
``Sec. 6321. Veterans Bill of Rights
``(a) Provision; Publication.--(1) The Secretary shall provide to 
each veteran a physical copy and an electronic copy of the Veterans 
Bill of Rights described in subsection (c).
``(2) The Secretary shall publish and maintain, on a publicly 
accessible website of the Department, an electronic copy of such 
Veterans Bill of Rights.
``(3) The Secretary shall keep a copy of the most recent version of 
such Veterans Bill of Rights in each facility of the Department.
``(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, 
the Department, or any officer or employee thereof.
``(c) Veterans Bill of Rights Described.--The Veterans Bill of 
Rights described in this subsection shall inform a veteran of rights 
and benefits to which the veteran may be entitled under laws 
administered by the Secretary. Such rights and benefits include the 
following:
``(1) Veterans have the right to fair treatment. Veterans 
shall be treated equally and with respect, regardless of rank, 
position, or any protected class, in every interaction with the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and affiliated service 
providers.
``(2) Veterans have the right to be informed of all 
eligible programs and benefits upon discharge, including 
healthcare options with non-VA providers.
``(A) Upon discharge, the VA shall provide each 
veteran with a comprehensive handbook detailing all 
eligible benefits and programs, including access to 
Community Care when VA healthcare is not available 
within reasonable timeframes or distances.
``(B) This information shall be accessible in print 
and online, updated annually, and cover healthcare, 
disability, education, and housing benefits.
``(3) Veterans have the right to privacy.
``(A) Veterans' personal information and records 
shall be strictly protected.
``(B) The VA must adhere to the highest standards 
of data privacy and clearly inform veterans about how 
their data is used, shared, and protected.
``(C) Veterans shall have assurance that all their 
interactions and records with the VA are handled 
confidentially and securely.
``(4) Veterans have the right to access quality healthcare.
``(A) Veterans shall have timely access to high-
quality healthcare through VA facilities or Community 
Care providers when necessary.
``(B) This includes access to physical and mental 
health services tailored to veterans' unique needs, 
ensuring they receive the best possible care regardless 
of location or circumstance.
``(5) Veterans have the right to mental health and family 
support services.
``(A) In recognition of the unique psychological 
impacts of military service, veterans shall have access 
to tailored mental health resources, including therapy, 
counseling, and group support, both in-person and via 
telehealth.
``(B) Additionally, support services for veterans' 
families shall be available to foster stability and 
wellness within the family unit, especially for those 
experiencing post-service challenges.
``(6) Veterans have the right to employment and housing 
assistance.
``(A) Veterans transitioning to civilian life shall 
have access to robust employment services, including 
job training, career counseling, and resume workshops.
``(B) The VA shall also provide resources for 
housing stability, such as assistance in securing 
affordable housing and support for homelessness 
prevention for veterans in need.
``(7) Veterans have the right to accessibility in services 
and facilities.
``(A) Veterans shall access VA services without 
physical, geographical, or logistical barriers, with 
reasonable accommodations provided for disabilities.
``(B) The VA shall also expand telehealth options 
and partnerships with local providers, particularly to 
serve veterans in remote or underserved areas, ensuring 
equitable service access.
``(8) Veterans have the right to involvement in decisions 
affecting their care and benefits.
``(A) Veterans shall be included in decisions about 
their care plans, treatment options, and benefits.
``(B) The VA shall involve veterans in discussions 
about their treatment and benefits eligibility, 
ensuring that veterans' preferences and needs are 
considered and respected in every decision.
``(9) Veterans have the right to transparency in benefits 
adjudication.
``(A) Veterans shall be provided with a transparent 
process for adjudicating claims, including clear 
information on application requirements, expected 
timelines, and necessary documentation.
``(B) The VA shall issue written decisions on 
claims within a specified timeframe, including 
explanations for any denials and information on appeal 
options.
``(10) Veterans have the right to a fair and timely appeals 
process.
``(A) Veterans may appeal denied claims through a 
fair and efficient process, receiving guidance from the 
VA on each step.
``(B) The VA shall aim, to the extent practicable, 
to resolve appeals within 120 days of filing, with 
progress updates provided throughout the process to 
ensure veterans are informed of the status of their 
cases.
``(11) Veterans have the right to consistent and proactive 
communication.
``(A) The VA shall proactively communicate with 
veterans regarding any updates or changes to their 
benefits and eligibility.
``(B) Veterans should receive timely information 
about new or modified services they qualify for, 
ensuring they have a clear understanding of all 
available resources throughout their lives.
``(d) Hotline and Portal.--(1) The Secretary shall maintain a toll-
free hotline and a publicly accessible website of the Department 
through which a veteran may report a complaint regarding compliance by 
the Secretary with this section.
``(2) The Secretary shall respond to a veteran not later than 30 
days after the Secretary receives such a complaint.
``(e) Reporting.--Not less than once each year, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives a report regarding compliance of the Secretary 
with this section. Each such report shall include the following 
elements with regards to the year preceding the date of such report:
``(1) The total number of complaints pursuant to subsection 
(c), disaggregated by--
``(A) category of issue (such as access to care, 
claims processing, appeals, communication, privacy, or 
other); and
``(B) facility of the Department;
``(2) The median and average response times for complaints.
``(3) The percentage of complaints resolved within 30 days.
``(4) The number of corrective actions taken or policy 
changes made by the Secretary as a result of complaints or 
identified noncompliance.
``(5) Data on average and median processing times for 
benefit claims and appeals, compared to the target timelines 
under subsection (c).
``(6) The number of veterans provided information or 
referrals for community care.
``(7) Recommendations of the Secretary for legislative or 
administrative action to further the purposes of this 
section.''.
(b) Implementation.--The Secretary shall carry out section 6321 of 
such title, as added by this section, not later than six months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
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