Bill > HR1987

This bill establishes a voluntary program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide free firearm lockboxes and secure storage information to veterans and certain former military members as a suicide prevention strategy. The program allows eligible veterans to request a lockbox or voucher for a lockbox that meets specific safety standards, including being manufactured in the United States, designed to prevent unauthorized access, and lockable by key or combination. The VA will be required to develop an informational video about firearm storage as a suicide prevention method, publish it online, and conduct a public education campaign to inform veterans about the program. The bill explicitly clarifies that participation does not affect firearm ownership rights, will not collect personally identifiable information about firearm ownership, and does not mandate firearm registration or storage. The program is funded with $5 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2036, and the VA must submit annual reports to congressional committees detailing the program's implementation, number of lockboxes distributed, and efforts to increase veteran outreach. The goal is to provide veterans with resources to safely store firearms and potentially reduce veteran suicide rates.

Government Affairs, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1987/all-info