Legis Daily

Helping Heroes Act

USA119th CongressS-701| Senate 
| Updated: 2/25/2025
Patty Murray

Patty Murray

Democratic Senator

Washington

Cosponsors (11)
Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)John Boozman (Republican)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Helping Heroes Act" mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish the Veteran Family Resource Program (VFRP). This program aims to enhance the resilience, health, and well-being of veterans by addressing social determinants of health within their family units. It will achieve this through person-centered clinical integrations, connections to VA benefits, and engagement with community resources, ensuring access to a continuum of services and resources to support family wellness. A core component of the VFRP is the appointment of at least one family coordinator in each Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) within five years of the Act's enactment. These coordinators will serve as point persons at VA medical centers, possessing a comprehensive understanding of both VA-administered and community resources available to veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. Their duties include assessing needs, building relationships, and referring individuals to appropriate local, State, Federal, and non-Department resources to support overall health and treatment goals. The bill outlines specific goals for the program, including connecting veterans to family resources to increase well-being, developing internal partnerships to improve healthcare, and capturing data for process improvement. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is also required to establish metrics for assessing the program's effectiveness, covering aspects like referrals and veteran and staff satisfaction. Furthermore, the Secretary must submit a report to Congress within two years of the program's commencement, detailing participant numbers, demographics, services provided, costs, and an assessment of positive outcomes for veterans and children. Beyond the VFRP, the Act also mandates the VA to conduct a survey of disabled veterans and their families within one year of enactment, and periodically thereafter. This survey will identify and better understand their needs, specifically focusing on the types and quality of support received for their children and any unmet needs. Finally, the bill includes a nondiscrimination clause, applying various federal civil rights laws, such as Title IX and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to any program or activity receiving funds under this Act.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-4276
Helping Heroes Act of 2022

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-622
Helping Heroes Act of 2023
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 25, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 31, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-2077
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-4276
    Helping Heroes Act of 2022


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-622
    Helping Heroes Act of 2023


  • February 25, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 25, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • March 31, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-2077
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 119-2077: Helping Heroes Act
Congressional oversightEmployee hiringFamily relationshipsFamily servicesGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementHealth programs administration and fundingMental healthSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsVeterans' medical care

Helping Heroes Act

USA119th CongressS-701| Senate 
| Updated: 2/25/2025
The "Helping Heroes Act" mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish the Veteran Family Resource Program (VFRP). This program aims to enhance the resilience, health, and well-being of veterans by addressing social determinants of health within their family units. It will achieve this through person-centered clinical integrations, connections to VA benefits, and engagement with community resources, ensuring access to a continuum of services and resources to support family wellness. A core component of the VFRP is the appointment of at least one family coordinator in each Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) within five years of the Act's enactment. These coordinators will serve as point persons at VA medical centers, possessing a comprehensive understanding of both VA-administered and community resources available to veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. Their duties include assessing needs, building relationships, and referring individuals to appropriate local, State, Federal, and non-Department resources to support overall health and treatment goals. The bill outlines specific goals for the program, including connecting veterans to family resources to increase well-being, developing internal partnerships to improve healthcare, and capturing data for process improvement. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is also required to establish metrics for assessing the program's effectiveness, covering aspects like referrals and veteran and staff satisfaction. Furthermore, the Secretary must submit a report to Congress within two years of the program's commencement, detailing participant numbers, demographics, services provided, costs, and an assessment of positive outcomes for veterans and children. Beyond the VFRP, the Act also mandates the VA to conduct a survey of disabled veterans and their families within one year of enactment, and periodically thereafter. This survey will identify and better understand their needs, specifically focusing on the types and quality of support received for their children and any unmet needs. Finally, the bill includes a nondiscrimination clause, applying various federal civil rights laws, such as Title IX and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to any program or activity receiving funds under this Act.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-4276
Helping Heroes Act of 2022

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-622
Helping Heroes Act of 2023
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 25, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 31, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-2077
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-4276
    Helping Heroes Act of 2022


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-622
    Helping Heroes Act of 2023


  • February 25, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 25, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • March 31, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-2077
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Patty Murray

Patty Murray

Democratic Senator

Washington

Cosponsors (11)
Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)John Boozman (Republican)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 119-2077: Helping Heroes Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional oversightEmployee hiringFamily relationshipsFamily servicesGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementHealth programs administration and fundingMental healthSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsVeterans' medical care