H.R. 8421

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8421 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8421

To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend to former members of 
the Armed Forces, discharged on the basis of sexual orientation or 
gender identity, certain benefits furnished by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 21, 2026

Mr. Pappas (for himself, Mr. Levin, Ms. Jacobs, and Ms. Dexter) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend to former members of 
the Armed Forces, discharged on the basis of sexual orientation or 
gender identity, certain benefits furnished by the Secretary 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 ``Securing the Rights our Veterans 
Earned Act'' or the ``SERVE Act''.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION TO FORMER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES, DISCHARGED ON 
THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY, OF 
CERTAIN BENEFITS FURNISHED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS.

(a) Hospital Care and Medical Services.--Section 1710(a)(2) of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
``any veteran'';
(2) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``any veteran'' 
before ``who has'';
(3) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``any veteran'' 
before ``whose'';
(4) in subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E), by inserting ``any 
veteran'' before ``who is'';
(5) in subparagraph (F)--
(A) by inserting ``any veteran'' before ``who is''; 
and
(B) by striking ``; or'' and inserting a semicolon;
(6) in subparagraph (G)--
(A) by inserting ``any veteran'' before ``who is''; 
and
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
``; and''; and
(7) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(H) a former member of the Armed Forces who, by reason of 
sexual orientation or gender identity (including a diagnosis of 
gender dysphoria), received--
``(i) an entry-level separation;
``(ii) a discharge under honorable conditions; or
``(iii) a discharge under conditions other than 
honorable.''.
(b) Vet Center Readjustment Counseling and Related Mental Health 
Services.--Section 1712A of such title is amended--
(1) by striking ``clauses (i) through (vii)'' both places 
it appears and inserting ``clauses (i) through (viii)'';
(2) by striking ``in clause (viii)'' both places it appears 
and inserting ``in clause (ix)''; and
(3) in subsection (a)(1)(C)--
(A) by redesignating clause (viii) as clause (ix); 
and
(B) by inserting after clause (vii) the following 
new clause (viii):
``(viii) An individual described in section 1710(a)(2)(H) 
of this title.''.
(c) Interment in National Cemeteries.--Section 2402(a) of such 
title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(11) An individual described in section 1710(a)(2)(H) of 
this title.''.
(d) Post-9/11 Educational Assistance.--Section 3311(b) of such 
title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(12) An individual described in section 1710(a)(2)(H) of 
this title.''.
(e) Housing Loans.--Section 3702(a)(2) of such title is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(H) Each individual described in section 1710(a)(2)(H) of 
this title.''.
(f) Outreach.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct 
outreach to notify individuals described in section 1710(a)(2)(H) of 
such title, as added by subsection (a), and entities including veterans 
service organizations and military service organizations, of benefits 
available to such individuals under the amendments made by this 
section.
(g) Report.--Not later than 15 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
on benefits provided individuals pursuant to amendments made by this 
Act during the year after such date. Such report shall include the 
number of such individuals who received such benefits, disaggregated by 
demographic categories.
<all>