Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025

Hozzl · 2025-09-25T19:26:12Z

Explore the details of House Bill 3951 Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025 currently in Congress. Get insights into its purpose, current status, sponsors, and potential impact on Armed Forces and National Security. Stay informed on legislative developments.

9/25/2025, 7:26 PM

Summary of Bill HR 3951

The bill, designated as H.R. 3951 in the 119th Congress and introduced on June 12, 2025, aims to amend existing legislation related to veterans' benefits to enhance the temporary licensure requirements for contract health care professionals conducting medical disability examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Congressional Summary of HR 3951

Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025

This bill extends and expands the pilot program under which certain non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care professionals may be contracted to provide disability examinations to veterans, regardless of the jurisdiction of their licensure, for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and care. Specifically, the bill (1) expands the types of health care professionals who may provide such examinations, and (2) extends the authority for such professionals to be contracted for this purpose through January 5, 2031.

Currently, such examinations may only be contracted to licensed non-VA physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, audiologists, or psychologists. The bill expands the list to include qualified health care professionals who are eligible for appointment to specified positions in the Veterans Health Administration, including hospital or clinic directors, dentists, and pharmacists.

The VA must report on its use of the expanded authority under this bill.

Read the Full Bill

Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Current Status of Bill HR 3951

Bill HR 3951 is currently in the status of Introduced to Senate since September 16, 2025. Bill HR 3951 was introduced during Congress 119 and was introduced to the House on June 12, 2025. Bill HR 3951's most recent activity was Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. as of September 16, 2025

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 3951

Total Number of Sponsors

Democrat Sponsors

Republican Sponsors

Unaffiliated Sponsors

Total Number of Cosponsors

Democrat Cosponsors

Republican Cosponsors

Unaffiliated Cosponsors

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 3951

Primary Policy Focus

Armed Forces and National Security

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 3951

To amend the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 and the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 to improve the temporary licensure requirements for contract health care professionals who perform medical disability examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Comments

Abby Schwarz

443

4 months ago

I don't like this bill. It's not good for rural veterans. They need more help, not less. This bill will make it harder for them to get the benefits they deserve. It's not fair. We need to do better for our veterans. They have sacrificed so much for our country, and we need to take care of them. This bill is a step in the wrong direction. We need to stand up for our veterans and make sure they get the support they need. Who benefits from this bill? Certainly not our rural veterans.