Historically Underserved Veterans Inclusion Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]
In Committee
Summary
Expands official VA support for historically underserved veterans. This bill would rename the Center for Minority Veterans to the Center for Minority and Historically Underserved Veterans and redesignate its leader as an Executive Director. It updates federal definitions so the Center serves “covered veterans,” a group that includes racial minorities and other veterans who face barriers to benefits.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Broader definition of covered veterans
If enacted, the bill would create the legal term "covered veterans" to mean both minority veterans and veterans who are historically underserved. It would add "Middle Eastern or North African American" and multi‑race listings to the minority list. "Historically underserved" would include factors like sexual orientation, gender identity, limited English, U.S. citizenship status, religion, low income, and living in a rural community (as defined by USDA rules). The Committee could add other groups after its biennial review.
Restore VA Office of Equity
If enacted, the bill would require the VA Secretary to reinstate the Office of Equity Assurance within 30 days. The VA would have to rehire any Office employee terminated after January 20, 2025, and the Office's positions could not be eliminated through a reduction in force. The Office would brief the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees and the Under Secretary on its data and research within 30 days of reinstatement and then every six months.
Biennial VA review of benefit gaps
If enacted, the bill would require the VA Secretary to carry out a review every two years to identify disparities in who receives VA benefits. The Secretary would use Committee recommendations and VA data in each review. Within 120 days after completing a review, the VA would send a report to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees with recommendations about extending Center services to groups found to be historically underserved.
Wider advisory committee for underserved veterans
If enacted, the bill would rename the Advisory Committee to include historically underserved veterans and replace references to "minority veterans" with "covered veterans." It would add five federal agency representatives from HUD, Education, Justice, the Small Business Administration, and the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The Committee would advise the VA on changing programs, expanding services (including health care, suicide prevention, and homelessness help), improving outreach and burial benefits, guiding nonprofit and faith groups, assisting veterans to get entitled benefits, and using techniques like journey mapping and social‑determinants measures.
Free Policy Watch
You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.
Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.
Pick a topic to get started
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]
FL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 12/12/2025
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in