Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee Oversight Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
In Committee
Summary
Creates and streamlines Veterans Affairs advisory panels by adding four new, time-limited committees and sunsetting many existing ones. The bill would set membership rules, two-year staggered terms, reporting requirements to VA leaders and Congress, and require VA staffing and support for the committees.
Show full summary
- Veterans and specific groups: New committees would focus on veterans' health; economic opportunity and transition; special populations; and former prisoners of war, compensation, and memorial affairs. These panels aim to surface needs and recommend program or policy changes.
- Department operations and oversight: VA would provide staffing and support and would receive annual or periodic reports to the Under Secretary for Health or Benefits, the Secretary, and Congress to inform evaluations and recommendations.
- Committee members and meetings: Members would serve reappointable two-year terms, serve without pay, and may receive travel and per diem reimbursement. The Health Committee must meet at least quarterly and the Special Populations Committee at least twice a year.
- Existing committees and timing: Most current VA advisory committees are set to terminate by Sept. 30, 2026. The newly created committees would terminate by Sept. 30, 2028 unless renewed, and one defunct committee is repealed.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
New panel for underserved veterans
If enacted, this bill would create an Advisory Committee on Veterans Special Populations to study gaps in benefits and access for women, tribal, and outlying-area veterans. The committee would meet at least twice per year, send an annual report to the Secretary by July 1, and have members serve two-year staggered terms without pay but with travel pay and per diem. The committee would terminate on September 30, 2028 unless renewed.
New veterans health advisory panel
If enacted, this bill would create a Veterans Health Advisory Committee inside VA to advise the Under Secretary for Health. The committee would review prosthetics, mental health, and environmental exposure programs, meet at least quarterly, and send an annual report by July 1. Members would serve two-year staggered terms, get no salary but could receive travel pay and per diem. The committee would end on September 30, 2028 unless renewed.
New veterans job and transition panel
If enacted, this bill would create a Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Advisory Committee to advise the Under Secretary for Benefits. The committee would study education, vocational rehabilitation, employment, and homelessness prevention, meet at least twice per year, and send an annual report to the Under Secretary by March 31. Members would serve two-year terms, receive no salary but could get travel pay and per diem, and the committee would terminate on September 30, 2028 unless renewed.
Sunset many existing VA advisory panels
If enacted, this bill would set a statutory end date of September 30, 2026 for many existing VA advisory committees and repeal one defunct committee. Examples include committees on disability compensation, prosthetics, geriatrics, environmental hazards, cemeteries and memorials, employment, education, tribal affairs, outlying areas, rehabilitation, parent advisory groups for VA child care, and facility structural safety. The bill would also bar the Secretary from creating new advisory committees under the academic-affiliations law after that date and would require VA to report on inactive or lapsed committees within 30 days.
Reform of former POW advisory group
If enacted, this bill would create a new Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War, Compensation, and Memorial Affairs to advise VA on POW health, compensation, and burial issues. The new committee would meet at least twice a year, send an annual report by July 1, and members would get travel pay and per diem but no salary. The bill would also set a fixed end date of September 30, 2026 for the currently authorized Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
TX • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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