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119-hr-2970119th CongressWALLET

National Veterans Advocate Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]

In Committee

Summary

Independent Office of the National Veterans' Advocate would be created inside the Department of Veterans Affairs to strengthen advocacy for veterans. It would expand casework authority, set staffing and training standards, and require public, independent reports with legislative recommendations.

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  • Veterans and families: Faster access to help for health care, benefits, nursing home, and burial issues through a casework request portal and local veteran advocates.
  • Veteran advocates and VA staff: New uniform annual training developed with VA leaders and veterans service organizations, plus Deputy National Veterans' Advocates in each Veterans Integrated Service Network and at least one veteran advocate per 12,000 enrolled veterans.
  • Oversight and public transparency: The National Veterans' Advocate would monitor Department processes and submit independent reports to congressional veterans committees twice a year with legislative recommendations that are not reviewed by the Secretary, and publish them online.
  • Department operations: The Office would have authority to manage casework across the Department and require outreach to inform veterans about available assistance.

*Would authorize $25 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to support the Office.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Independent VA advocate and faster case help

If enacted, VA would create an independent Office of the National Veterans' Advocate that reports to the Secretary. The Office would run casework across VA, with a Deputy Advocate in every VISN and staff in Washington, D.C. Each VISN would need at least one veteran advocate for every 12,000 enrolled veterans who live there. The Office would host a public website and a portal where veterans can request help, and forms would speed local assignment. VA would also rename "patient advocates" as "veteran advocates."

Stronger oversight to fix VA problems

If enacted, the Office would look for problems veterans face with hospital and medical care, nursing home care, and burial and interment benefits. It would propose administrative fixes and suggest law changes when needed. The VA Secretary, the Advocate, and top VA leaders would work together often to improve policy without waiting for Congress.

Funding and top pay for Advocate

If enacted, the bill would authorize $25 million each year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to run the Office. It would also pay the National Veterans' Advocate at the top Senior Executive Service basic pay rate. This funding would support staffing and operations that help veterans.

Twice-yearly public reports to Congress

If enacted, twice a year—by March 30 and September 30—the Advocate would send reports to Congress on the Office’s work. The reports would include independent recommendations to improve care, benefits, and cost efficiency. VA officials could not edit the reports before submission, and the Office would post them on its website.

Yearly training for veteran advocates

If enacted, every veteran advocate would get yearly training. The curriculum would be built with VA health and benefits leaders, VISN directors, and veterans service organizations. Training would cover current VA policy, crisis response, and health topics, and be consistent across VA.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]

IN • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 7/14/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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