Bill > S3653

This bill, titled the "Veterans' Bill of Rights Act of 2026," mandates that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) actively inform veterans about their rights concerning healthcare, benefits, and services provided by the VA. The VA must ensure veterans are aware of their rights to access care from VA or authorized community providers, to be treated with respect and dignity, to give informed consent for treatment, to receive comprehensive information about available benefits, to apply for benefits at any time with clear explanations, to seek care or raise concerns without fear of retaliation, to have their privacy protected, to file grievances and have them resolved promptly, to receive transparent communication about claims and appeals, and to appeal adverse decisions with fair hearings. To implement these rights, the VA must integrate them into its policies and training, display them prominently at facilities and online, include them in the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for servicemembers transitioning to civilian life, make them accessible via the VA's mobile app and eBenefits portal, require facilities to designate patient advocates to audit compliance, and include a summary of these rights in all acknowledgments of claims or applications. Importantly, this bill does not create new legal causes of action for damages or alter existing eligibility requirements for VA care or benefits.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3653/all-info