VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act

Nikki Budzinski

Democrat · IL · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11)Original· 2025-06-10
• Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1)· 2025-06-17
• Steve Cohen (D-TN-9)· 2025-10-14
• Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-2)· 2026-04-22

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 550.

2026-05-04

Source: Congress.gov

The bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to expand mental health outreach and engagement programs specifically designed to reach veterans who may not be actively seeking help. It aims to improve how the VA identifies and connects with veterans struggling with mental health issues, particularly those who are isolated or unaware of available services. The legislation would affect veterans and the VA's mental health care system by making it easier for struggling veterans to access treatment and support.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 3863 Reported in House (RH)] <DOC> Union Calendar No. 550 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3863 [Report No. 119-634] To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish annual mental health consultations to certain veterans, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 10, 2025 Ms. Budzinski (for herself and Mr. Edwards) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs May 4, 2026 Additional sponsors: Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Cohen, and Ms. Goodlander May 4, 2026 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 10, 2025] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish annual mental health consultations to certain 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 ``VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act''. SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATIONS AND OUTREACH TO A VETERAN RECEIVING COMPENSATION FOR A SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY RELATING TO A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS. (a) Annual Consultation; Outreach.--The section 1167 of title 38, United States Code, relating to mental health consultations is amended-- (1) in subsection (a), in the subsection heading, by striking ``In General'' and inserting ``Initial Consultation''; (2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsections: ``(b) Annual Consultation; Outreach.--Not less frequently than once each year, the Secretary shall, with regards to a veteran who is receiving compensation under this chapter for a service-connected disability relating to a mental health diagnosis-- ``(1) offer a mental health consultation to assess the mental health needs of, and discuss other mental health care options for, the veteran; and ``(2) conduct outreach (unless a veteran elects not to receive such outreach)-- ``(A) regarding the availability of consultations under paragraph (1) and other mental health services furnished by the Secretary; and ``(B) using methods described in subsection (c). ``(c) Outreach Methods.--Outreach methods described in this subsection consist of-- ``(1) successfully contacting the veteran by telephone call or text message; ``(2) if the Secretary does not make such contact, not fewer than two telephone calls or text messages; or ``(3) if the Secretary does not have a telephone number for the veteran-- ``(A) at least one email; or ``(B) if the Secretary does not have an email address for the veteran, at least one letter.''; (4) in subsection (c), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by inserting ``or (b)'' after ``under subsection (a)'' both places it appears; and (5) in subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by inserting ``, or to require the reevaluation of any entitlement of the veteran to compensation under this chapter'' before the period at the end. (b) Technical Corrections.-- (1) Redesignation.--Such section, as amended, is redesignated as section 1169 of such title. (2) Clerical amendments.--The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 11 of such title is amended-- (A) by striking the item relating to the section 1167 that relates to mental health consultations; and (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 1168 the following new item: ``1169. Mental health consultations.''. (c) Annual…

Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter for three additional years, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding the outreach methods under subsection (c) of section 1169 of such title. Elements of such report shall include the following: (1) The respective rates of success, in attempting to contact veterans, for such methods. (2) With regards to each such method, the number of times and percentage of attempts that the Secretary determined such attempt was unsuccessful. (3) With regards to unsuccessful attempts described in paragraph (2), a breakdown of which other methods of outreach the Secretary used to attempt to contact veterans. (4) With regards to each such method, the number of times and percentage of attempts that led to a veteran engaging with mental health services furnished by the Secretary. (5) The number and percentage of veterans who elected not to receive such outreach. (d) GAO Review.--Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the effect of the amendments made by this section. Elements of such report shall include-- (1) the number of veterans who received-- (A) mental health consultations under paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of section 1169 of such title; (B) outreach under paragraph (2) of such subsection; and (C) which outreach method under subsection (c) of such section was the most effective method to reach a veteran; (2) whether veterans reported barriers to seeking such consultations; and (3) such barriers, if any. SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN HOUSING LOAN FEES. The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``June 9, 2034'' each place it appears and inserting ``May 12, 2035''. Union Calendar No. 550 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3863 [Report No. 119-634] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish annual mental health consultations to certain veterans, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ May 4, 2026 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

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