YourVoice.Now Summary
Average Household ImpactTransparency & AccountabilityVeterans rated for a mental health condition would get a VA check-in every year — by call, text, email, or letter.
Average Household Impact
- Annual mental-health consultations — VA must offer one each year to veterans rated for a mental health condition
- VA home-loan fee window — Current funding fee rates extended about 11 months to May 2035
Transparency & Accountability
- Reporting requirements — VA must report outreach success rates to Congress annually for four years
- Oversight review — GAO must assess the program's effect within two years
The details
Veterans who receive VA disability pay for a mental health condition would hear from the VA every year. The VA would have to offer an annual mental health consultation and discuss other care options. Outreach starts with a phone call or text. If two attempts fail, the VA tries email, and then a letter. Veterans can opt out of the outreach at any time. The bill also states that a consultation cannot trigger a review of a veteran's disability compensation. That removes a common worry about asking for help. The VA must report to Congress each year for four years on which contact methods actually work. The GAO reviews the results after two years. A separate section extends the current VA home loan fee schedule by about 11 months, to May 2035.
Congressional Summary
VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement ActThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to offer an annual mental health consultation to veterans who are receiving compensation for a service-connected disability relating to a mental health diagnosis. Additionally, the VA must conduct outreach regarding the availability of such consultations and other mental health services unless a veteran opts out of outreach.The bill requires the VA to utilize specified methods in its outreach efforts and to provide annual reports for the four years following the enactment of the bill regarding the outreach methods used to inform veterans about mental health consultations and services.The Government Accountability Office must report on the effect of this bill, including by reporting on the number of veterans who received mental health consultations and which outreach methods were most successful in reaching such veterans.The bill also extends certain higher loan fee rates through May 12, 2035, under the VA's home loan program. Such rates currently last through June 9, 2034.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Reported to House
- Action Date
- 2026-05-04
- Date Added
- 2026-07-28
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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