# 119-hr-3261: VA Employee Fairness Act of 2025

119-hr-3261, VA Employee Fairness Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] (D-CA); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-31).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3261
- As of: 2026-10-31
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-3261
- Congress: 119
- Title: VA Employee Fairness Act of 2025
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-05-07
- Sponsor: Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 120
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-31

## Summary

**Narrows collective bargaining authority for Veterans Health Administration employees.** The bill removes subsections (b), (c), and (d) of 38 U.S.C. 7422 and redesignates former subsection (e) as the new subsection (b), shrinking which bargaining authorities apply to VHA staff. - VHA employees and labor unions: Certain existing collective bargaining authorities are eliminated, reducing the statutory scope unions can use in negotiations and agreements. - VA leadership and hiring: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs keeps authority over incentive pay and expedited hiring under section 706 of Title 38 and similar laws, so those pay and hiring tools remain available.

## Cosponsors (120)

- Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] (D-AL), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34] (D-CA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] (D-CA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43] (D-CA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50] (D-CA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52] (D-CA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1] (D-CO), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] (D-CT), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10] (D-FL), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20] (D-FL), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6] (D-GA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] (D-IL), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13] (D-IL), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1] (D-IN), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9] (D-MA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5] (D-MD), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3] (D-NJ), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] (D-NY), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26] (D-NY), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2] (D-PA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1] (D-RI), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37] (D-TX), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4] (D-VA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9] (D-WA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4] (D-WI), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3] (D-KY), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2] (D-WA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] (D-IL), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5] (D-GA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10] (D-VA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25] (D-NY), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2] (D-ME), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14] (D-NY), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2] (D-MN), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1] (D-NJ), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4] (D-AZ), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] (D-IL), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4] (D-NV), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10] (D-WA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] (D-CA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] (D-CA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11] (D-MI), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4] (D-OR), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5] (D-MN), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4] (D-PA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18] (D-NY), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11] (D-OH), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4] (D-CA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] (D-TX), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10] (D-NY), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2] (D-GA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] (D-MI), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32] (D-TX), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large] (D-DE), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2] (D-NH), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] (D-CA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6] (D-OR), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] (D-NH), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (D-NY), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33] (D-CA), 2025-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3] (D-MN), 2025-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2025-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA), 2025-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32] (D-CA), 2025-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO), 2025-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2025-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1] (D-MO), 2025-05-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] (D-NC), 2025-05-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] (D-IL), 2025-08-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (D-IL), 2025-08-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2025-08-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2025-08-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7] (D-MD), 2025-08-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2025-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6] (D-WA), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2025-10-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35] (D-CA), 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1] (D-IL), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22] (D-NY), 2025-12-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35] (D-TX), 2025-12-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25] (D-FL), 2026-02-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] (D-VA), 2026-02-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30] (D-CA), 2026-04-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2026-04-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] (D-FL), 2026-04-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT), 2026-06-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6] (D-PA), 2026-06-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15] (D-NY), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7] (D-MA), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2026-06-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] (D-NJ), 2026-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2026-07-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] (D-LA), 2026-08-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM), 2026-09-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] (D-PA), 2026-09-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO), 2026-09-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (D-IL), 2026-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] (D-NC), 2026-09-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9] (D-CA), 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5] (D-OR), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Limits on union rights for VA health workers: cost, medium. This bill would change union rules for Veterans Health Administration employees. It would remove three parts of the current bargaining law and move another part, which could narrow what unions can bargain over. It would not change the Secretary’s powers to offer incentive pay or use expedited hirin…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-hr-15: Equality Act
- 119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act
- 119-hr-1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act
- 119-hr-14: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2550: Protect America's Workforce Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-3261 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3261)

## Related
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [119-hr-15: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-15)
- [119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-17)
- [119-hr-1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1810)
- [119-hr-14: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-14)
- [119-hr-2550: Protect America's Workforce Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2550)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3261 (as of 2026-10-31).