BRAVE Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Crow
In Committee
Summary
Boost VA mental health workforce and Vet Center capacity. This bill would reform pay and hiring rules, modernize Vet Center outreach and technology, and fund targeted programs for women, transitioning service members, and veterans with special needs.
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- Veterans and transitioning service members would get stronger outreach and coordination, expanded annual mental health consultations for those with mental health disability claims, and reviews of group retreat services to address demand and accessibility.
- Vet Center staff and operations would face new pay-transparency and market-survey requirements, temporary licensure flexibilities for clinicians, and a 60-day review to decide whether to keep or replace the Vet Center network IT platform.
- Women veterans and specialized-care groups would see targeted studies and program changes, including a study and one-year report on women’s suicide prevention and outreach, REACH VET updates to weight women-specific risks, a Parker G. Fox grant cap raised to $1.0 million and extended to six years, and pilots for residential treatment for veterans with spinal cord injuries.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Annual mental health checks for veterans
If enacted, the VA would be required to offer at least one mental health consultation each year to every veteran receiving compensation for a service-connected mental health disability. If enacted, the VA would conduct outreach about those consultations and collect veteran feedback. The VA would submit an initial report within one year and then at least once every two years on outreach effectiveness and plans to address findings.
Better suicide risk care for women
If enacted, the VA would begin changing the REACH VET risk-identification system within 60 days so it better counts risk factors that matter for women, like military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence. If enacted, the VA would also run surveys and listening sessions with women veterans within 240 days to see how suicide-prevention and mental health messages work for them. The VA would report within one year after completing those sessions on steps to refine outreach and messaging.
Residential mental health pilots for spinal injuries
If enacted, the VA would submit a plan within 60 days to ensure veterans with spinal cord injury or disorder can access VA mental health residential treatment. If enacted, the VA would start a pilot at not fewer than three VA medical facilities within 120 days and report on implementation and initial results within one year. The plan must cover staffing, medical equipment needs, and best locations for care.
Easier hiring rules for VA counselors
If enacted, the VA would be allowed to give psychologists a reasonable period to meet licensure timing rules, as recommended by the Under Secretary for Health. If enacted, the VA would also be able to waive licensure or certification for a licensed professional mental health counselor for a reasonable period when the Under Secretary recommends it. These changes would make it easier and faster to hire mental health staff.
Bigger community suicide-prevention grants
If enacted, the bill would raise the maximum Parker G. Fox suicide-prevention grant from $750,000 to $1,000,000 per award. If enacted, the bill would also extend the grant program's statutory time reference from three years to six years. Community groups that work on veteran suicide prevention would have access to larger awards and a longer program window.
More Vet Center outreach data and targets
If enacted, the VA would require each Vet Center, within 180 days, to have demographic data for people eligible in its area, including recently transitioned veterans. If enacted, the VA would give guidance on outreach metrics and set up periodic processes to find barriers veterans face getting services and barriers staff face delivering services. These changes aim to improve Vet Center outreach, especially in rural and under-served areas.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Crow
CO • D
Cosponsors
Kiggans (VA)
VA • R
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Schrier
WA • D
Sponsored 12/5/2025
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Obernolte
CA • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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