IB 

Union Calendar No. 794 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 562 

[Report No. 118–945] 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit Members of Congress 

to use facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purposes 

of meeting with constituents, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 26, 2023 

Mr. MAST (for himself, Mr. PANETTA, Ms. SALAZAR, Mr. TONY GONZALES

of Texas, Mr. BAIRD, Mrs. KIM of California, Mrs. CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, Mr. SCOTT FRANKLIN of Florida, Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS, Mr. DUNN

of Florida, Ms. VAN DUYNE, Mr. DAVIDSON, Mr. FINSTAD, Mr. FLOOD, 

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mr. GALLAGHER, Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana, and Mr. JOYCE of Ohio) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

DECEMBER 24, 2024 

Additional sponsors: Mr. KEAN of New Jersey, Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina, 

Mr. HUDSON, Ms. SHERRILL, Mr. NUNN of Iowa, Mr. FALLON, Mr. 

SELF, Mr. OBERNOLTE, Mr. VAN ORDEN, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. LALOTA, 

Mr. GOLDEN of Maine, Mr. CROW, Ms. SLOTKIN, Mr. NEGUSE, and Ms. 

CARAVEO

DECEMBER 24, 2024 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 26, 2023] 


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•HR 562 RH

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit Members of Congress to use facilities of the Department 

of Veterans Affairs for the purposes of meeting with 

constituents, and for other purposes. 


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•HR 562 RH

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Improving Veterans Ac5 cess to Congressional Services Act of 2023’’. 

6 SEC. 2. USE OF FACILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VET7 ERANS AFFAIRS BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Upon request of a Member of Con9 gress and subject to regulations prescribed under subsection 

10 (b), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall permit the Mem11 ber to use a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

12 (other than a facility of the National Cemetery Administra13 tion) for the purposes of meeting with veterans who are con14 stituents of the Member. The Secretary and the Adminis15 trator of General Services shall jointly identify available 

16 spaces in facilities of the Department for such purposes. 

17 (b) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 90 days after the 

18 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Af19 fairs shall prescribe regulations regarding such use of a fa20 cility of the Department of Veterans Affairs by Members 

21 of Congress. Regulations prescribed under this subsection— 

22 (1) shall require that a space within a facility 

23 of the Department provided to a Member under sub24 section (a) is— 

25 (A) available during normal business hours; 


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•HR 562 RH

1 (B) located in an area that is visible and 

2 accessible to veterans who are constituents of the 

3 Member; and 

4 (C) subject to a rate of rent (payable from 

5 the Member’s Representational Allowance or the 

6 Senator’s Official Personnel and Office Expense 

7 Account, as the case may be) that is similar to 

8 the rate charged by the Administrator of General 

9 Services for office space in the area of the facil10 ity; 

11 (2) may not prohibit a Member from advertising 

12 the use by the Member of a space within a facility of 

13 the Department under subsection (a); 

14 (3) shall comply with sections 7321 through 7326 

15 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to 

16 as the ‘‘Hatch Act’’) and section 1.218(a)(14) of title 

17 38, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regula18 tion), by prohibiting activities including— 

19 (A) campaigning in support of or opposi20 tion to any political office; 

21 (B) statements or actions that solicit, sup22 port, or oppose any change to Federal law or 

23 policy; 

24 (C) any activity that interferes with secu25 rity or normal operation of the facility; 


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•HR 562 RH

1 (D) photographing or recording a veteran 

2 patient at such facility; 

3 (E) photographing or recording a patient, 

4 visitor to the facility, or employee of the Depart5 ment without the consent of such individual; and 

6 (F) photography or recording for the pur7 pose of political campaign materials; 

8 (4) may not permit a Member of Congress to use 

9 such a facility during the 60-day period preceding an 

10 election for Federal office in the jurisdiction in which 

11 such facility is located; and 

12 (5) may not unreasonably restrict use of a facil13 ity of the Department by a Member under subsection 

14 (a) if— 

15 (A) there is space in such facility not in 

16 regular use by personnel of the Department; and 

17 (B) use of such space shall not impede oper18 ations of the Department in such facility. 


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Union Calendar No. 794 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 562 

[Report No. 118–945] 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to perposes. of meeting with constituents, and for other pur- Department of Veterans Affairs for the purposes mit Members of Congress to use facilities of the 

DECEMBER 24, 2024 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


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