Veterans Affairs Heritage Act of 2026

This bill establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs History Office within the Department of Veterans Affairs to collect, preserve, and provide access to the historical records, artifacts, and cultural resources of the VA and its predecessors. Its primary purpose is to tell a comprehensive story of the Department to veterans, government agencies, and the public. The Office, headed by a Chief Historian reporting directly to the Secretary, will initially be located in Dayton, Ohio, for an eight-year period. The Office's responsibilities include implementing the VA's history program, developing public educational opportunities through publications and exhibits, and managing facilities for historical preservation, access, and training. This involves maintaining storage, conference, and public exhibit spaces, alongside conducting training on preservation and archival management. An Internal Coordination Group , chaired by the Deputy Secretary and including senior VA representatives, will advise the Office on its operations and resourcing. The legislation also transfers functions related to the Veterans Legacy Program , the Veterans Legacy Memorial , and the Veterans' Oral History Project from other entities to the new History Office. The Secretary is authorized to accept gifts, devises, or bequests and to enter into partnerships or cooperative agreements with organizations to support the Office. It also permits leasing Office facilities to nonprofit organizations for revenue generation, with proceeds dedicated to the Office's responsibilities, and mandates a long-range planning report and annual progress reports until 2030.