I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9996 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to 
the laws relating to patient advocacy for patients who receive health 
care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 15, 2024 
Mr. YAKYM introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain 
improvements to the laws relating to patient advocacy 
for patients who receive health care furnished by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 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 ‘‘National Veterans Ad-
vocate Act of 2024’’. 
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SEC. 2. INDEPENDENT OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL VET-
ERANS’ ADVOCATE IN DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7309A of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking the section heading and insert-
ing the following new section heading: 
‘‘§ 7309A. Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘within the Office of the 
Under Secretary for Health’’ and inserting 
‘‘within the Office of the Secretary’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘an office’’ and inserting 
‘‘an independent office’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘ ‘Office of Patient Advo-
cacy’ ’’ and inserting ‘‘ ‘Office of the National 
Veterans’ Advocate’ ’’; 
(3) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Office 
of Patient Advocacy’’ and inserting ‘‘Office of 
the National Veterans’ Advocate’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Office of Patient Ad-
vocacy’’ and inserting ‘‘Office of the Na-
tional Veterans’ Advocate’’; 
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(ii) by striking ‘‘by the Under Sec-
retary for Health’’ and inserting ‘‘by the 
Secretary’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘shall report directly 
to the Under Secretary for Health’’ and in-
serting ‘‘shall be independent of the Sec-
retary’’; 
(4) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking the subsection heading and 
inserting ‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS.—’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘function’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘functions’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘is’’ and inserting 
‘‘are’’; and 
(iii) by inserting before the period at 
the end the following: ‘‘and to monitor De-
partment 
processes 
and 
make 
rec-
ommendations to Congress on how to im-
prove the Department’s efficiency and care 
for veterans’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(4) On a quarterly basis, the Director shall submit 
to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 
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House of Representatives independent legislative rec-
ommendations for the improvement of health outcomes for 
veterans, the quality of health care and benefits provided 
by the Department, and the cost efficiency of the Depart-
ment. Such recommendations may not be reviewed by the 
Secretary or by any other official of the Department prior 
to submission. 
‘‘(5) The Office shall have a designated publicly ac-
cessible website that includes access to the information 
technology system required under paragraph (3).’’; 
(5) by redesignating subsection (f) as sub-
section (g); and 
(6) by inserting after subsection (e) the fol-
lowing new subsection (f): 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 73 of such title is amended 
by striking the item relating to section 7309A and insert-
ing the following new item: 
‘‘7309A. Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate.’’. 
Æ 
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