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119-hr-10160119th CongressWALLET

Vet CENTERS for Mental Health Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]

In Committee

Summary

Guarantee a minimum number of Vet Centers in every state. This bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to meet state-by-state minimums for covered Vet Centers using Census veteran counts and, for the contiguous 48 states, land area, and to achieve those minimums within one year.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

VA must meet Vet Center minimums

If enacted, the Department of Veterans Affairs would have one year from enactment to make sure each State meets its minimum number of covered Vet Centers. The VA would establish additional centers as needed and could use facilities provided by State, local, or federally recognized tribal governments, whether or not provided at a cost. When a State needs more than one new site, the VA would have to open at least one full covered Vet Center and could use covered Vet Center outstations to fill the remaining required sites.

State minimum Vet Center counts

If enacted, the bill would set a legal minimum number of covered Vet Centers for every State. For the 48 contiguous States, the minimum would be whichever is larger: one center per 30,000 square miles of State land, or one center per 55,000 veterans using the Census Bureau's latest veteran count. For Alaska, Hawaii, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories, the minimum would be the larger of one center or the number of covered Vet Centers in the State on January 1, 2020. The bill would also define a "covered Vet Center" as a Vet Center scheduled at least eight hours a day, five days a week (with short exceptions for holidays, weather, safety, pandemics, or other Secretary‑determined reasons) and would require outstations to provide similar child care services. These rules would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]

NJ • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 8/27/2026

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 8/27/2026

  • Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 8/27/2026

  • Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

    TN • D

    Sponsored 8/27/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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