I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6017 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to issue to a veteran a Veterans Bill of Rights, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 10, 2025 
Mr. VAN DREW (for himself and Mrs. CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs to issue to a veteran a Vet-
erans Bill of Rights, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans Bill of Rights 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. VETERANS BILL OF RIGHTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 63 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section (and the table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended accordingly): 
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‘‘§ 6321. Veterans Bill of Rights 
‘‘(a) PROVISION; PUBLICATION.—(1) The Secretary 
shall provide to each veteran a physical copy and an elec-
tronic copy of the Veterans Bill of Rights described in sub-
section (c). 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall publish and maintain, on a 
publicly accessible website of the Department, an elec-
tronic copy of such Veterans Bill of Rights. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall keep a copy of the most re-
cent version of such Veterans Bill of Rights in each facility 
of the Department. 
‘‘(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to create any right or benefit, sub-
stantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by 
any party against the United States, the Department, or 
any officer or employee thereof. 
‘‘(c) VETERANS BILL OF RIGHTS DESCRIBED.—The 
Veterans Bill of Rights described in this subsection shall 
inform a veteran of rights and benefits to which the vet-
eran may be entitled under laws administered by the Sec-
retary. Such rights and benefits include the following: 
‘‘(1) Veterans have the right to fair treatment. 
Veterans shall be treated equally and with respect, 
regardless of rank, position, or any protected class, 
in every interaction with the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs (VA) and affiliated service providers. 
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‘‘(2) Veterans have the right to be informed of 
all eligible programs and benefits upon discharge, in-
cluding healthcare options with non-VA providers. 
‘‘(A) Upon discharge, the VA shall provide 
each veteran with a comprehensive handbook 
detailing all eligible benefits and programs, in-
cluding access to Community Care when VA 
healthcare is not available within reasonable 
timeframes or distances. 
‘‘(B) This information shall be accessible 
in print and online, updated annually, and cover 
healthcare, disability, education, and housing 
benefits. 
‘‘(3) Veterans have the right to privacy. 
‘‘(A) Veterans’ personal information and 
records shall be strictly protected. 
‘‘(B) The VA must adhere to the highest 
standards of data privacy and clearly inform 
veterans about how their data is used, shared, 
and protected. 
‘‘(C) Veterans shall have assurance that all 
their interactions and records with the VA are 
handled confidentially and securely. 
‘‘(4) Veterans have the right to access quality 
healthcare. 
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‘‘(A) Veterans shall have timely access to 
high-quality healthcare through VA facilities or 
Community Care providers when necessary. 
‘‘(B) This includes access to physical and 
mental health services tailored to veterans’ 
unique needs, ensuring they receive the best 
possible care regardless of location or cir-
cumstance. 
‘‘(5) Veterans have the right to mental health 
and family support services. 
‘‘(A) In recognition of the unique psycho-
logical impacts of military service, veterans 
shall have access to tailored mental health re-
sources, including therapy, counseling, and 
group support, both in-person and via tele-
health. 
‘‘(B) Additionally, support services for vet-
erans’ families shall be available to foster sta-
bility and wellness within the family unit, espe-
cially for those experiencing post-service chal-
lenges. 
‘‘(6) Veterans have the right to employment 
and housing assistance. 
‘‘(A) Veterans transitioning to civilian life 
shall have access to robust employment services, 
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including job training, career counseling, and 
resume workshops. 
‘‘(B) The VA shall also provide resources 
for housing stability, such as assistance in se-
curing affordable housing and support for 
homelessness prevention for veterans in need. 
‘‘(7) Veterans have the right to accessibility in 
services and facilities. 
‘‘(A) Veterans shall access VA services 
without physical, geographical, or logistical bar-
riers, with reasonable accommodations provided 
for disabilities. 
‘‘(B) The VA shall also expand telehealth 
options and partnerships with local providers, 
particularly to serve veterans in remote or un-
derserved areas, ensuring equitable service ac-
cess. 
‘‘(8) Veterans have the right to involvement in 
decisions affecting their care and benefits. 
‘‘(A) Veterans shall be included in deci-
sions about their care plans, treatment options, 
and benefits. 
‘‘(B) The VA shall involve veterans in dis-
cussions about their treatment and benefits eli-
gibility, ensuring that veterans’ preferences and 
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needs are considered and respected in every de-
cision. 
‘‘(9) Veterans have the right to transparency in 
benefits adjudication. 
‘‘(A) Veterans shall be provided with a 
transparent process for adjudicating claims, in-
cluding clear information on application re-
quirements, expected timelines, and necessary 
documentation. 
‘‘(B) The VA shall issue written decisions 
on claims within a specified timeframe, includ-
ing explanations for any denials and informa-
tion on appeal options. 
‘‘(10) Veterans have the right to a fair and 
timely appeals process. 
‘‘(A) Veterans may appeal denied claims 
through a fair and efficient process, receiving 
guidance from the VA on each step. 
‘‘(B) The VA shall aim, to the extent prac-
ticable, to resolve appeals within 120 days of 
filing, with progress updates provided through-
out the process to ensure veterans are informed 
of the status of their cases. 
‘‘(11) Veterans have the right to consistent and 
proactive communication. 
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‘‘(A) The VA shall proactively commu-
nicate with veterans regarding any updates or 
changes to their benefits and eligibility. 
‘‘(B) Veterans should receive timely infor-
mation about new or modified services they 
qualify for, ensuring they have a clear under-
standing of all available resources throughout 
their lives. 
‘‘(d) HOTLINE
AND PORTAL.—(1) The Secretary 
shall maintain a toll-free hotline and a publicly accessible 
website of the Department through which a veteran may 
report a complaint regarding compliance by the Secretary 
with this section. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall respond to a veteran not 
later than 30 days after the Secretary receives such a com-
plaint. 
‘‘(e) REPORTING.—Not less than once each year, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a 
report regarding compliance of the Secretary with this sec-
tion. Each such report shall include the following elements 
with regards to the year preceding the date of such report: 
‘‘(1) The total number of complaints pursuant 
to subsection (c), disaggregated by— 
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‘‘(A) category of issue (such as access to 
care, claims processing, appeals, communica-
tion, privacy, or other); and 
‘‘(B) facility of the Department; 
‘‘(2) The median and average response times 
for complaints. 
‘‘(3) The percentage of complaints resolved 
within 30 days. 
‘‘(4) The number of corrective actions taken or 
policy changes made by the Secretary as a result of 
complaints or identified noncompliance. 
‘‘(5) Data on average and median processing 
times for benefit claims and appeals, compared to 
the target timelines under subsection (c). 
‘‘(6) The number of veterans provided informa-
tion or referrals for community care. 
‘‘(7) Recommendations of the Secretary for leg-
islative or administrative action to further the pur-
poses of this section.’’. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall carry 
out section 6321 of such title, as added by this section, 
not later than six months after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
Æ 
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