H.R. 8224

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8224 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8224

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the President to 
define veteran success and to develop and implement a National Veterans 
Strategy, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 9, 2026

Mr. Moore of Alabama (for himself and Mr. Guest) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the President to 
define veteran success and to develop and implement a National Veterans 
Strategy, 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 ``National Veterans Strategy Act of 
2026''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) It is in the national interest of the United States for 
veterans to be successful after their service in the Armed 
Forces.
(2) Veterans who are successful across various aspects of 
their lives after their service in the Armed Forces provide a 
continued return on investment to the United States for the 
time and resources spent on their training that made them 
successful in the Armed Forces.
(3) Veterans bring highly valued skills to the civilian 
workforce, including leadership, problem-solving, technical 
expertise, and teamwork that make the economy of the United 
States stronger.
(4) Veterans' success after service can include starting a 
business, working in public service, raising a family, pursuing 
further education, competing in athletics, working to serve 
other veterans, and improving overall health.
(5) The success of veterans enhances national security and 
military readiness. Demonstrating a lifelong commitment to 
those who serve strengthens recruitment, retention, and morale 
throughout the Armed Forces.
(6) A veteran who uses military experience and veteran 
benefits to achieve success after leaving service in the Armed 
Forces is a positive influence on the next generation of people 
of the United States who will consider serving in the Armed 
Forces.

SEC. 3. DEFINING VETERAN SUCCESS AND NATIONAL VETERANS STRATEGY.

(a) In General.--Chapter I of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 120. Defining veteran success and National Veterans Strategy
``(a) Defining Veteran Success.--
``(1) Metrics required.--The President shall, in 
collaboration with the key stakeholders described in paragraph 
(3), establish metrics to determine the well-being of the 
population of veterans.
``(2) Areas.--The metrics established pursuant to paragraph 
(1) shall apply to areas of physical health, mental health, 
spiritual health, economic security and opportunity, education, 
family and social engagement, and civic engagement.
``(3) Key stakeholders.--The key stakeholders described in 
this paragraph are such stakeholders as the President considers 
key stakeholders for purposes of this subsection and shall 
include the following:
``(A) Congress.
``(B) The Secretary.
``(C) The Secretary of Defense.
``(D) The Secretary of Labor.
``(E) The Secretary of Health and Human Services.
``(F) The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development.
``(G) The Administrator of the Small Business 
Administration.
``(H) State governments.
``(I) Local governments.
``(J) Tribal organizations.
``(K) Veterans service organizations.
``(L) Nonprofit organizations that serve veterans.
``(M) Institutions of higher learning.
``(N) Research organizations with expertise on the 
veteran population.
``(O) Philanthropy associations.
``(P) Trade and professional associations.
``(Q) Private sector companies, including both 
large corporations and small business concerns.
``(b) National Veterans Strategy.--
``(1) Strategy required.--The President shall formulate and 
submit to Congress, not less frequently than once every four 
years, a national strategy (in this subsection referred to as 
the `Strategy') to align the resources and efforts of various 
government, nonprofit, and private sector organizations to help 
veterans achieve success in the metrics established under 
subsection (a)(1).
``(2) Consultation.--
``(A) In general.--In formulating the Strategy, the 
President shall consult with the key stakeholders 
specified under subsection (a)(3) and the general 
public.
``(B) Public participation.--The President shall 
ensure that consultation under subparagraph (A) 
includes public input through public hearings, surveys, 
or such other methods as the President considers 
appropriate to gather feedback from veterans, families 
of veterans, and the general public.
``(3) Consideration of needs across demographics.--The 
Strategy shall include consideration of the various needs of 
veterans across demographics that include age, geographic 
locations, sex, race, period of military service, disability, 
health conditions, education level, and marital and family 
status.
``(4) Methods for evaluation of overall well-being.--The 
Strategy shall provide for methods to evaluate overall well-
being of veterans using the metrics established under 
subsection (a)(1).
``(5) Direction for application of benefits and services.--
The Strategy shall--
``(A) provide direction for what benefits and 
services should be applied to assist veterans who do 
not meet the metrics established under subsection 
(a)(1) in certain areas of health and well-being; and
``(B) prescribe how and by whom such services and 
benefits should be applied to maximize effectiveness 
and efficiency across Federal, State, local, nonprofit, 
and private sector resources.
``(6) Delineation of services provided to organizations.--
The Strategy may include delineation of what services should be 
provided by certain types of government or nongovernmental 
organizations, as well as in what order different types of 
services or benefits should be provided to achieve the best 
result in the most efficient manner.
``(7) Direct services and federal grants.--The Strategy may 
include considerations on how best to coordinate the use of 
both direct services provided by Federal agencies, as well as 
Federal grants for State and local governments and nonprofit 
organizations, or the use of commercial services, to provide 
direct services to veterans.
``(8) Evaluation of outcomes.--
``(A) In general.--The Strategy shall include 
standard metrics to evaluate the outcomes achieved from 
delivering services and benefits to veterans.
``(B) Consistent and uniform application of 
metrics.--Each Federal agency and recipient of a 
Federal grant, as a condition on continued receipt of 
the grant, shall apply the standard metrics included 
under subparagraph (A) consistently and uniformly 
across programs.
``(c) Congressional Disapproval Procedures.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
this section, the President may not take any action with regard 
to a national strategy developed under subsection (b) if, 
within 60 days after the date on which Congress receives a 
national strategy under such subsection, Congress enacts a 
joint resolution disapproving the national strategy.
``(2) Contents of resolution.--For the purpose of paragraph 
(1), `joint resolution' means only a joint resolution 
introduced after the date on which the national strategy 
referred to in section (b)(1) is received by Congress the 
matter after the resolving clause of which is as follows: `That 
Congress disapproves the National Veterans Strategy established 
by the President as submitted to Congress on ______ (the blank 
space being appropriately filled in).'.
``(3) Referral to committee.--A resolution described in 
paragraph (2) introduced in the House of Representatives shall 
be referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House 
of Representatives. A resolution described in paragraph (2) 
introduced in the Senate shall be referred to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate. Such a resolution may not be 
reported before the 8th day after its introduction.
``(4) Discharge of committee.--If the committee to which is 
referred a resolution described in paragraph (2) has not 
reported such resolution (or an identical resolution) at the 
end of 15 calendar days after its introduction, such committee 
shall be deemed to be discharged from further consideration of 
such resolution and such resolution shall be placed on the 
appropriate calendar of the House involved.
``(5) Floor consideration.--
``(A) In general.--When the committee to which a 
resolution is referred has reported, or has been deemed 
to be discharged (under paragraph (4)) from further 
consideration of, a resolution described in paragraph 
(2), it is at any time thereafter in order (even though 
a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed 
to) for any Member of the respective House to move to 
proceed to the consideration of the resolution, and all 
points of order against the resolution (and against 
consideration of the resolution) are waived. The motion 
is highly privileged in the House of Representatives 
and is privileged in the Senate and is not debatable. 
The motion is not subject to amendment, or to a motion 
to postpone, or to a motion to proceed to the 
consideration of other business. A motion to reconsider 
the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed 
to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the 
consideration of the resolution is agreed to, the 
resolution shall remain the unfinished business of the 
respective House until disposed of.
``(B) Debate.--Debate on the resolution, and on all 
debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, 
shall be limited to not more than 10 hours, which shall 
be divided equally between those favoring and those 
opposing the resolution. A motion further to limit 
debate is in order and not debatable. An amendment to, 
or a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the 
consideration of other business, or a motion to 
recommit the resolution is not in order. A motion to 
reconsider the vote by which the resolution is agreed 
to or disagreed to is not in order.
``(C) Vote on final passage.--Immediately following 
the conclusion of the debate on a resolution described 
in paragraph (2), and a single quorum call at the 
conclusion of the debate if requested in accordance 
with the rules of the appropriate House, the vote on 
final passage of the resolution shall occur.
``(D) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals 
from the decisions of the Chair relating to the 
application of the rules of the Senate or the House of 
Representatives, as the case may be, to the procedure 
relating to a resolution described in paragraph (2) 
shall be decided without debate.
``(6) Coordination with action by other house.--If, before 
the passage by one House of a resolution of that House 
described in paragraph (2), that House receives from the other 
House a resolution described in paragraph (2), then the 
following procedures shall apply:
``(A) The resolution of the other House shall not 
be referred to a committee.
``(B) With respect to a resolution described in 
paragraph (2) of the House receiving the resolution--
``(i) the procedure in that House shall be 
the same as if no resolution had been received 
from the other House; but
``(ii) the vote on final passage shall be 
on the resolution of the other House.
``(7) Rules of house of representatives and senate.--This 
subsection is enacted by Congress--
``(A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the 
Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, and 
as such it is deemed a part of the rules of each House, 
respectively, but applicable only with respect to the 
procedure to be followed in that House in the case of a 
resolution described in paragraph (2), and it 
supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is 
inconsistent with such rules; and
``(B) with full recognition of the constitutional 
right of either House to change the rules (so far as 
relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, 
in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the 
case of any other rule of that House.
``(d) Implementation of National Veterans Strategy.--
``(1) Federal, state, local, nonprofit, and private sector 
coordination.--Except as provided in subsection (c) and not 
before the date that is 60 days after date on which the 
President submits to Congress the Strategy under subsection 
(b)(1), the President shall direct the heads of Federal 
agencies to coordinate with State and local governments, 
nonprofit organizations, and the private sector to implement 
the Strategy. Each head of a Federal agency shall ensure that 
the agency aligns its resources, services, and initiatives with 
the objectives outlined in the Strategy.
``(2) Incorporation into agency strategic plans.--Each head 
of a Federal agency shall, as applicable, incorporate the 
metrics established under subsection (a)(1) and the Strategy 
into the strategic plan of the agency required by section 306 
of title 5.
``(3) Annual reporting.--
``(A) In general.--Not less frequently than once 
each year, the President shall submit to Congress an 
annual report detailing the implementation of the 
Strategy, including progress toward achieving the goals 
of the Strategy in the areas specified in subsection 
(a)(2).
``(B) Contents.--Each report submitted pursuant to 
subparagraph (A) shall include, for the period covered 
by the report, the following:
``(i) A review of the performance metrics 
developed under subsection (a)(1).
``(ii) An assessment of spending pursuant 
to the Strategy in each of the Federal, State, 
local, nonprofit, and private sectors, how such 
spending aligned with the objectives outlined 
in the Strategy, and identification of 
effective programs and best practices at the 
State and local levels that could be replicated 
in other jurisdictions.
``(iii) Identification of barriers to 
success in implementing the Strategy and 
recommendations for such legislative or 
administrative action for the various 
jurisdictional levels observed as the President 
considers appropriate to improve the well-being 
of the population of veterans.
``(e) Quadrennial Reviews.--
``(1) In general.--Not less frequently than once every four 
years, the President shall--
``(A) review the national strategy formulated under 
subsection (b)(1) and the metrics established under 
subsection (a)(1); and
``(B) as the President considers necessary, update 
such national strategy and metrics.
``(2) Elements.--Each review carried out under paragraph 
(1) shall include the following:
``(A) Assessment of the effectiveness of 
initiatives carried out pursuant to the Strategy.
``(B) Identification of challenges encountered by 
the Federal Government in carrying out the Strategy.
``(C) Recommendations for legislative or 
administrative action to address the challenges 
identified pursuant to subparagraph (B).
``(3) Public participation.--The President shall ensure 
that each review under paragraph (1) includes public input 
through public hearings, surveys, or other such other methods 
as the President considers appropriate to gather feedback from 
veterans, families of veterans, and the general public.
``(f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to authorize an officer or employee of the Federal Government 
to carry out any program or policy that is inconsistent with any other 
provision of Federal law, including the elimination or rescission of 
any program, benefit, or service required by a provision of Federal 
law.
``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Tribal organization.--The term `Tribal organization' 
has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
5304).
``(2) Nonprofit organization.--The term `nonprofit 
organization' means an organization described in section 501(c) 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation 
under section 501(a) of such Code.
``(3) Veterans service organization.--The term `veterans 
service organization' means an organization recognized by the 
Secretary for the representation of veterans under section 5902 
of this title.''.
(b) Initial Metrics.--Not earlier than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act and not later than two years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the President shall establish the metrics 
required by section 120(a)(1) of such title, as added by subsection 
(a).
(c) Initial Strategy.--Not earlier than two years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act and not later than four years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress 
the first strategy under section 120(b)(1) of such title, as added by 
subsection (a).
(d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 1 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 119 the following new item:

``120. Defining veteran success and National Veterans Strategy.''.
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