H.R. 9375

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9375 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9375

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to award grants to eligible entities to provide 
immigration legal services to noncitizen veterans, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 18, 2026

Mrs. Torres of California introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to award grants to eligible entities to provide 
immigration legal services to noncitizen veterans, 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 ``Honor Their Service Act''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS GRANTS FOR ELIGIBLE ENTITIES 
PROVIDING IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES TO NONCITIZEN 
VETERANS.

(a) In General.--Part II of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new chapter:

``CHAPTER 25--BENEFITS FOR NONCITIZEN VETERANS

``2501. Immigration legal services for noncitizen veterans.
``Sec. 2501. Immigration legal services for noncitizen veterans
``(a) Grants.--Subject to the availability of appropriations 
provided for such purpose, the Secretary shall award grants to eligible 
entities that provide immigration legal services to noncitizen veterans 
who are in removal proceedings, at risk for removal, or have been 
removed from the United States.
``(b) Criteria.--(1) The Secretary shall--
``(A) establish criteria and requirements for 
grants under this section, including criteria for 
entities eligible to receive such grants; and
``(B) publish such criteria and requirements in the 
Federal Register.
``(2) In establishing criteria and requirements under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall--
``(A) take into consideration any criteria and requirements 
needed with respect to carrying out this section in rural 
communities, on trust lands, and in the territories and 
possessions of the United States; and
``(B) consult with organizations that have experience in 
providing immigration legal services or discharge 
characterizations to noncitizen veterans, including--
``(i) veterans service organizations;
``(ii) nonprofit immigration legal services 
providers with demonstrated experience representing 
noncitizen veterans; and
``(iii) such other organizations as the Secretary 
determines appropriate.
``(c) Eligible Entities.--The Secretary may award a grant under 
this section to an entity applying for such a grant only if the 
applicant for the grant--
``(1) is a public or nonprofit private entity with the 
capacity (as determined by the Secretary) to effectively 
administer a grant under this section;
``(2) demonstrates that adequate financial support will be 
available to carry out the services for which the grant is 
sought consistent with the application;
``(3) agrees to meet the applicable criteria and 
requirements established under subsection (b)(1); and
``(4) has, as determined by the Secretary, demonstrated the 
capacity to meet such criteria and requirements.
``(d) Use of Funds.--Grants under this section shall be used to 
provide noncitizen veterans described in subsection (a) the following:
``(1) Legal services relating to defense in removal 
proceedings under section 240 of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a).
``(2) Legal services relating to applications for 
naturalization, including naturalization through military 
service under sections 328 and 329 of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1439, 1440).
``(3) Legal services relating to applications for parole, 
including parole in place and humanitarian parole, under 
section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)).
``(4) Legal services to assist noncitizen veterans who have 
been removed from the United States in pursuing lawful reentry 
or repatriation (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(9)(A)(iii)).
``(5) Legal services relating to requests to upgrade the 
characterization of a discharge or dismissal of a former member 
of the Armed Forces under section 1553 of title 10, where such 
characterization is a barrier to immigration relief or 
naturalization.
``(6) Such other immigration legal services as the 
Secretary determines appropriate.
``(e) Locations.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall 
award grants under this section to eligible entities in a manner that 
ensures individuals are able to access these legal services regardless 
of their location, including through virtual services.
``(f) Biennial Reports.--(1) Not less frequently than once every 
two years, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
House of Representatives a report on grants awarded under this section.
``(2) To the extent feasible, each report required by paragraph (1) 
shall include the following with respect to the period covered by the 
report:
``(A) The number of noncitizen veterans assisted.
``(B) A description of the immigration legal services 
provided.
``(C) A description of the immigration matters addressed.
``(D) An analysis by the Secretary with respect to the 
operational effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the 
services provided.
``(g) Noncitizen Veteran Defined.--In this section, the term 
`noncitizen veteran' means a veteran, as defined in section 101(2) of 
this title, who is not a citizen or national of the United States. as 
defined in section 1101(a)(3) of title 8.''.
(b) Clerical Amendments.--The tables of chapters at the beginning 
of title 38, United States Code, and of part II of title 38, United 
States Code, are each amended by inserting after the item relating to 
chapter 24 the following new item:
``25. Benefits for Noncitizen Veterans 2501''.
(c) Criteria.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish and publish in the Federal Register the criteria and 
requirements pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of section 2501 of title 38, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a).
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for fiscal years 
2027 through 2030.
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