Several Veterans Bills Backed by The American Legion Move Forward

The U.S. House passed six Veteran-related bills during the week of May 18, including five supported by The American Legion through testimony.

The measures would increase certain VA benefits, improve healthcare appointment scheduling, expand Fisher House access, and make it easier for Veterans to use education benefits for trucking apprenticeships. The measures still need Senate approval before any changes can take effect.

Faster Scheduling for Community Care

H.R. 3482, the Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act, would require the VA to create an electronic scheduling process for healthcare appointments. The goal is to make it easier for Veterans to schedule care with VA providers and approved community care providers.

The American Legion supported the bill to improve access to timely healthcare, especially for Veterans who need appointments outside VA facilities (i.e., community care).

Expanded Fisher House Eligibility

H.R. 3726, the Fisher House Availability Act of 2025, expands eligibility for no-cost temporary lodging at Fisher Houses to include Service Members and their families.

Fisher Houses provide free lodging for military and Veteran families while a loved one receives medical care. The American Legion said the bill would help make sure Fisher House programs can continue serving Veterans, Service Members, and families as intended.

Support for Veterans Entering Trucking Careers

H.R. 2954, the Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act of 2025, would allow the VA Secretary to serve as the single approving authority for multi-state trucking apprenticeship programs.

The change would remove the need for separate approvals from multiple states. Supporters say this would reduce paperwork, expand career options for Veterans, and help strengthen the transportation workforce.

Protection From Delayed VA Copay Bills

H.R. 3812, the Stop Troubling Retroactive Invoices for Veteran Expenses Act of 2025, limits when the VA can collect certain healthcare copayments from Veterans. It would place limits on delayed VA copayment collections, including certain cases where notice was not provided within two years or the balance is more than $2,000.

Supporters say the bill is meant to protect Veterans from surprise medical debt caused by VA administrative delays, technical problems, or billing errors.

Due Process for Veterans With Fiduciaries

H.R. 496, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Restoration Act, stops the VA from automatically reporting Veterans to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System solely because they need a fiduciary to manage their VA benefits.

The bill would also direct the VA to notify the Department of Justice that past referrals based only on fiduciary status were improper. The American Legion’s stance: Veterans should not lose constitutional rights simply because the VA determined they need help managing their finances.

Benefits Increase for Severely Disabled Veterans and Survivors

H.R. 6047, the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act, would increase VA monthly compensation for some service-connected, catastrophically Disabled Veterans. It would also increase Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, known as DIC, for eligible surviving families of Veterans who were 100% disabled or died from service-connected causes.

The American Legion supports the bill, saying it would help some of the nation’s most vulnerable Veterans and provide an overdue increase for survivors.

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