# 119-hr-2234: Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act of 2025

119-hr-2234, Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] (D-IL); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2234
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-2234
- Congress: 119
- Title: Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act of 2025
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-03-18
- Sponsor: Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] (D-IL)
- Cosponsors: 16
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Recognize certified registered nurse anesthetists as licensed independent practitioners** by aligning Veterans Health Administration anesthesia rules with Defense Health Agency standards. The bill would set certification rules, require at least 25 hours of direct patient anesthesia care, allow suspension for noncompliance, and mandate GAO reports comparing outcomes and cost-effectiveness across anesthesia delivery models. - Veterans and patients would see care organized into three defined models: anesthesiologist delivery, a certified registered nurse anesthetist under physician supervision, and a certified registered nurse anesthetist without supervision. The Comptroller General would produce a public report one year after enactment and annually thereafter comparing outcomes and costs for each model. - Anesthesia professionals would face clear certification rules. Physician anesthesiologists must hold board certification and certified registered nurse anesthetists must hold certification from the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists, the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists, or a similar body, and must complete at least 25 hours of direct patient anesthesia care. - Veterans Health Administration facilities and taxpayers would get a cost-effectiveness breakdown. GAO reports must estimate costs to VA facilities and taxpayers and show cost and savings impacts for taxpayers and veterans' households.

## Cosponsors (16)

- Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2] (R-VA), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3] (R-NE), 2025-04-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1] (D-IL), 2025-05-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1] (R-MI), 2025-06-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2025-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2025-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2025-07-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2025-07-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2025-07-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3] (R-WI), 2025-08-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] (D-MS), 2025-09-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14] (R-OH), 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15] (R-PA), 2026-05-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT), 2026-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large] (R-MP), 2026-06-23T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New rules for VA anesthesia providers: mixed, medium. This bill would set new standards for anesthesia staff at VA hospitals. Physician anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists would need national certification. Each provider would need at least 25 hours of direct patient anesthesia care, not just supervision. The VA would suspend staff who do not mee…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7567: Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026
- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
- 119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act
- 119-hr-3277: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act
- 119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-2234 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2234)

## Related
- [119-hr-7567: Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7567)
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842)
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [119-hr-3277: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3277)
- [119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3514)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2234 (as of 2026-09-21).