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Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-980| House 
| Updated: 2/3/2026
Derrick Van Orden

Derrick Van Orden

Republican Representative

Wisconsin

Veterans' Affairs Committee, Veterans' Affairs Committee, Economic Opportunity Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act of 2025 aims to significantly enhance the Department of Veterans Affairs' educational and vocational counseling and rehabilitation services. It removes the requirement that on-campus counseling must be provided exclusively by certain VA employees, offering greater flexibility in service delivery. Furthermore, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to approve non-degree flight training courses as part of vocational rehabilitation programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities, expanding the scope of eligible training. The legislation also mandates improved outreach for these programs, requiring a dedicated telephone number for inquiries and comprehensive contact information on regional office websites. It establishes monthly question and answer sessions for school certifying officials and requires in-person briefings for veterans at educational institutions, with virtual options for remote locations. Additionally, the bill streamlines the process for extending vocational rehabilitation programs by requiring a decision within 30 days and mandates annual reporting to Congress on these extension requests.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

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Timeline
Feb 5, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 5, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 7, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Mar 11, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Apr 9, 2025
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Apr 9, 2025
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
May 6, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Aug 15, 2025
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 186.
Aug 15, 2025
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-228.
Feb 2, 2026
Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Feb 2, 2026
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1929-1930)
Feb 2, 2026
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 980.
Feb 2, 2026
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Feb 2, 2026
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1936)
Feb 2, 2026
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 2 (Roll no. 49). (text: CR H1929)
View Vote
Feb 2, 2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Feb 3, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  • February 5, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • February 5, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • March 7, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.


  • March 11, 2025
    Subcommittee Hearings Held


  • April 9, 2025
    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.


  • April 9, 2025
    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • May 6, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • August 15, 2025
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 186.


  • August 15, 2025
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-228.


  • February 2, 2026
    Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • February 2, 2026
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1929-1930)


  • February 2, 2026
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 980.


  • February 2, 2026
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.


  • February 2, 2026
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1936)


  • February 2, 2026
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 2 (Roll no. 49). (text: CR H1929)
    View Vote


  • February 2, 2026
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • February 3, 2026
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Armed Forces and National Security

Educational guidanceHigher educationVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-980| House 
| Updated: 2/3/2026
The Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act of 2025 aims to significantly enhance the Department of Veterans Affairs' educational and vocational counseling and rehabilitation services. It removes the requirement that on-campus counseling must be provided exclusively by certain VA employees, offering greater flexibility in service delivery. Furthermore, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to approve non-degree flight training courses as part of vocational rehabilitation programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities, expanding the scope of eligible training. The legislation also mandates improved outreach for these programs, requiring a dedicated telephone number for inquiries and comprehensive contact information on regional office websites. It establishes monthly question and answer sessions for school certifying officials and requires in-person briefings for veterans at educational institutions, with virtual options for remote locations. Additionally, the bill streamlines the process for extending vocational rehabilitation programs by requiring a decision within 30 days and mandates annual reporting to Congress on these extension requests.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Feb 5, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 5, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 7, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Mar 11, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Apr 9, 2025
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Apr 9, 2025
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
May 6, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Aug 15, 2025
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 186.
Aug 15, 2025
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-228.
Feb 2, 2026
Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Feb 2, 2026
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1929-1930)
Feb 2, 2026
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 980.
Feb 2, 2026
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Feb 2, 2026
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1936)
Feb 2, 2026
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 2 (Roll no. 49). (text: CR H1929)
View Vote
Feb 2, 2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Feb 3, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  • February 5, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • February 5, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • March 7, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.


  • March 11, 2025
    Subcommittee Hearings Held


  • April 9, 2025
    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.


  • April 9, 2025
    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • May 6, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • August 15, 2025
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 186.


  • August 15, 2025
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-228.


  • February 2, 2026
    Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • February 2, 2026
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1929-1930)


  • February 2, 2026
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 980.


  • February 2, 2026
    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.


  • February 2, 2026
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1936)


  • February 2, 2026
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 2 (Roll no. 49). (text: CR H1929)
    View Vote


  • February 2, 2026
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • February 3, 2026
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Derrick Van Orden

Derrick Van Orden

Republican Representative

Wisconsin

Veterans' Affairs Committee, Veterans' Affairs Committee, Economic Opportunity Subcommittee

Armed Forces and National Security

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Educational guidanceHigher educationVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitation