VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act

Bill: 119-hr-3863
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]
Introduced: 2025-06-10
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Government studies and investigations

Mental health

Veterans' medical care

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2025-07-23
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3863 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 10, 2025 Ms. Budzinski (for herself and Mr. Edwards ) 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 Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish annual mental health consultations to certain veterans, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act . 2. Mental health consultations and outreach to a veteran receiving compensation for a service-connected disability relating to a mental health diagnosis (a) Annual consultation; outreach The section 1167 of title 38, United States Code, relating to mental health consultations is amended— (1) in subsection (a), in the subsection heading, by striking In general and inserting Initial consultation ; (2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively; (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection (b): (b) Annual consultation; outreach Not less frequently than once each year, the Secretary shall, with regards to a veteran who is receiving compensation under this chapter for a service-connected disability relating to a mental health diagnosis— (1) offer a mental health consultation to assess the mental health needs of, and discuss other mental health care options for, the veteran; and (2) conduct outreach regarding the availability of— (A) consultations under paragraph (1); and (B) other mental health services furnished by the Secretary. ; (4) in subsection (c), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by inserting or (b) after under subsection (a) both places it appears; and (5) in subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by inserting , or to require the reevaluation of any entitlement of the veteran to compensation under this chapter before the period at the end. (b) Technical corrections (1) Redesignation Such section, as amended, is redesignated as section 1169 of such title. (2) Clerical amendments The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 11 of such title is amended— (A) by striking the item relating to the section 1167 that relates to mental health consultations; and (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 1168 the following new item: 1169. Mental health consultations. . (c) GAO review Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the effect of the amendments made by this section. Elements of such report shall include— (1) the number of veterans who received— (A) mental health consultations under paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of section 1169 of such title; and (B) outreach under paragraph (2) of such subsection; (2) whether veterans reported barriers to seeking such consultations; and (3) such barriers, if any.