By: Stephanie Kalota
Founder, Veteran Legislative Voice & AHG Correspondent
With each new congressional session, a large influx of legislation is introduced with the hopes of passing. Unfortunately, only 4 to 7% of legislation is passed each session.
The Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025, S. 124, was introduced by Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) on January 16, 2025. This bill is supposed to amend Title 38, United States Code, to provide for disciplinary procedures for supervisors and managers at the Department of Veterans Affairs and to modify the procedures for personnel actions against Department employees, among other purposes. This bill is reminiscent of a law that passed under President Trump’s first term, which has gotten some blowback in the judicial system when fired employees fought against the legality of the law. It had overturned so much that the VA stopped following that new law. Some of those fired employees ended up being reinstated with back pay. If this new bill passes, we will have to see if it will pass the legality test in the judicial system.
The Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, H.R. 71, was introduced by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-5) on January 3, 2025. This bill is supposed to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to improve the ability of veterans to access medical care in the medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the community by providing the veterans the ability to choose health care providers. Currently, veterans are often given medical providers at will by those working the scheduling, often first available. This legislation would give veterans the agency to choose which doctor they are seen by. Unintentionally this could give the VA an idea of the performance of these providers because patients are not going to return to providers that treat them terribly.
The Lead by Example Act of 2025, H.R. 149, was introduced by Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH-8) on January 3, 2025. This bill is supposed to ensure that Members of Congress and Congressional staff receive health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs instead of under the Federal Health Benefits Program or health care exchanges. This is a bill that has been submitted a few times in the past and has yet to pass.
The Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2025, H.R. 220, was introduced by Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA-26) on January 7, 2025. This bill is supposed to amend Title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide coverage for infertility treatment and standard fertility preservation services, and for other purposes. Currently, the only veterans who qualify for infertility treatment are those who have infertility due to direct service-connected issues. This will give infertility treatment to everyone.
