This bill establishes the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The committee's primary purpose is to advise the Secretary on improving the accessibility of the Department for individuals with disabilities, encompassing information, services, benefits, and facilities. It also aims to ensure the VA's compliance with various federal accessibility laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. The Advisory Committee will consist of 15 voting members, including veterans with disabilities , accessibility experts, VA employees, and representatives from veterans service organizations. Its duties include assessing the disability access needs of veterans, evaluating the VA's current accessibility, and providing recommendations to enhance accessibility across all communications, services, benefits, and facilities. The committee is mandated to submit biennial reports to the Secretary and Congress, detailing identified barriers, assessing VA's efforts, and proposing legislative or administrative actions. Before establishing this new committee, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must abolish or consolidate existing inactive advisory committees. Additionally, the bill includes a minor provision extending the limitation on certain pension payments to veterans admitted to nursing facilities from November 30, 2031, to January 31, 2032.
Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered).
Armed Forces and National Security
Advisory bodiesCongressional oversightDepartment of Veterans AffairsDisability and health-based discriminationDisability assistanceExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment information and archivesGovernment lending and loan guaranteesVeterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2025
USA119th CongressHR-1147| House
| Updated: 5/20/2025
This bill establishes the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The committee's primary purpose is to advise the Secretary on improving the accessibility of the Department for individuals with disabilities, encompassing information, services, benefits, and facilities. It also aims to ensure the VA's compliance with various federal accessibility laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. The Advisory Committee will consist of 15 voting members, including veterans with disabilities , accessibility experts, VA employees, and representatives from veterans service organizations. Its duties include assessing the disability access needs of veterans, evaluating the VA's current accessibility, and providing recommendations to enhance accessibility across all communications, services, benefits, and facilities. The committee is mandated to submit biennial reports to the Secretary and Congress, detailing identified barriers, assessing VA's efforts, and proposing legislative or administrative actions. Before establishing this new committee, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must abolish or consolidate existing inactive advisory committees. Additionally, the bill includes a minor provision extending the limitation on certain pension payments to veterans admitted to nursing facilities from November 30, 2031, to January 31, 2032.
Advisory bodiesCongressional oversightDepartment of Veterans AffairsDisability and health-based discriminationDisability assistanceExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment information and archivesGovernment lending and loan guaranteesVeterans' loans, housing, homeless programs