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119-hr-3863119th CongressWALLET

VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act

Sponsored By: Representative Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]

In Committee

Summary

Annual mental health consultations and outreach for veterans with service‑connected mental health diagnoses. The bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer yearly mental health consultations, set specific contact methods and fallbacks, require congressional reports and a Government Accountability Office review, and move a VA housing loan‑fee expiration date.

Show full summary
  • Veterans: Veterans receiving compensation for a service‑connected mental health diagnosis would be offered an initial and at least annual mental health consultation and outreach about VA mental health services. The bill would also shift a VA housing loan‑fee expiration to May 12, 2035.
  • Outreach and clinical process: Outreach must begin with a successful telephone call or text, include at least two additional phone/text attempts if needed, and fall back to email or traditional mail when phone or email are unavailable. The consultation and outreach pathway could include reevaluating entitlement to compensation as part of the process.
  • Oversight and review: The Secretary would report to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees annually for four years with metrics on contact success, unsuccessful attempts, alternative methods used, engagement outcomes, and opt‑outs. The Government Accountability Office would review program reach and barriers within two years.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Annual VA mental health outreach

If enacted, the bill would require the VA to offer a mental health consultation at least once each year to veterans receiving compensation for a service-connected mental health disability. The VA would have to conduct outreach each year unless a veteran elects not to receive outreach. Outreach must aim for successful phone or text contact, make at least two follow-up calls or texts if initial contact fails, send at least one email if no phone is on file, and send at least one letter if no email is on file. The VA Secretary would report to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees within one year and then annually for three years on outreach success rates and related metrics. The Comptroller General would report to those Committees within two years on how many veterans were reached, which methods worked best, and any barriers veterans reported. The Secretary could require a reevaluation of a veteran’s entitlement to compensation as part of outreach or a consultation.

VA home loan fee date

If enacted, the bill would change the date entries in the VA loan fee table by replacing each instance of "June 9, 2034" with "May 12, 2035". The text would move the statutory date from June 9, 2034 to May 12, 2035. The bill does not specify new fee amounts or how fees would change. The change would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]

IL • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 6/10/2025

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

    PA • R

    Sponsored 6/17/2025

  • Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

    TN • D

    Sponsored 10/14/2025

  • Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 4/22/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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