US Congress · 119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 3951In Second Chamber

Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025

Source of recordUS Congress · congress.govLast synced Jul 14, 2026

Chamber

House

Progress

Where this bill stands in the legislative process.

Introduced
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became Law

Overview

This bill expands the ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with a wider range of healthcare professionals to conduct disability examinations for veterans. It broadens the list of eligible professionals to include those who are qualified for positions within the Veterans Health Administration, such as hospital directors, dentists, and pharmacists, in addition to physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, audiologists, and psychologists. The bill also extends the authorization for these contracts through January 5, 2031, and requires the VA to report on its use of this expanded authority.

Key provisions

Expands the types of healthcare professionals eligible to provide disability examinations for veterans.
Includes qualified health care professionals eligible for positions within the Veterans Health Administration (e.g., hospital directors, dentists, pharmacists).
Extends the authorization for these contracts through January 5, 2031.
Requires the VA to report on the use of the expanded authority.
The report will include data on examinations conducted, costs, timeliness, and legal adequacy.
The report will also include data on the number of examinations conducted by location (state, territory).
The report will detail the types of health care professionals involved.
The report will identify and address any errors in the use of the expanded authority.

Who is affected

Veterans

Bill text

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Jun 12, 2025XMLView source

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Legislative history

18 recorded actions · showing the most recent 12

Jul 23, 2025House

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Jul 23, 2025House

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Sep 9, 2025House

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 215.

Sep 9, 2025House

Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-259.

Sep 9, 2025

Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-259.

Sep 15, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Sep 15, 2025House

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4289)

Sep 15, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4289: 1)

Sep 15, 2025House

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3951.

Sep 15, 2025House

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4289)

Sep 15, 2025House

Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

Sep 16, 2025Senate

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Votes

Recorded roll calls and chamber actions on this bill.

Passage without roll call

The official record shows passage by unanimous consent or voice vote where no roll call was taken. No member-level tally is available for these steps, and the district map does not apply.

9/15/2025HouseVoice vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4289)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
9/15/2025Voice vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4289: 1)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls list how each member voted. Unanimous consent or voice vote appears in the official action history without a roll call; no member-level tally is available for those steps.

Passage without roll call

Sep 15, 2025HouseVoice vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4289)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
Sep 15, 2025Voice vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4289: 1)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Geography

Recorded positions across the country.

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments

Reasons offered for and against this legislation.

Arguments in favor

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Arguments opposed

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Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025

Progress