REP VA Act | ChamberLight

REPORTED· 119TH CONGRESS

Senate BillS 831Telephone and wireless communicationDepartment of Veterans Affairs

REP VA Act

INTRO MAR 4· LAST ACTION JUL 30

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2MIN

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LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

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Introduced

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Reported

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Passed House

Conference

To President

Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

Voters should care about this bill because it addresses long-standing frustrations many veterans face when trying to communicate with the VA. Currently, veterans often receive calls from many different, unknown numbers, making it difficult to discern legitimate VA outreach from potential scam calls. This bill aims to restore trust and clarity in these communications, potentially reducing fraud targeting veterans.

Furthermore, improving access to healthcare appointment and referral services through better-staffed and geographically distributed call centers could significantly reduce wait times and improve the overall experience for veterans seeking medical care. If this bill becomes law, veterans could see a tangible improvement in how they interact with the VA, making essential services more accessible and reliable. If it doesn't pass, these communication challenges and access issues are likely to continue.

KEY PROVISIONS

3AI-extracted

PROVISION 01

Requires all VA outbound calls to veterans regarding services or benefits to originate from a single, well-known telephone number by January 1, 2026.

This aims to increase trust and reduce confusion for veterans receiving calls from the VA, helping them identify legitimate communications.

PROVISION 02

Mandates that VA outbound calls use caller identification branding that clearly indicates the call is from or on behalf of the Department.

This further clarifies the origin of calls, protecting veterans from scams and ensuring they answer important calls.

PROVISION 03

Requires the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to establish at least one call center in each of the six specified U.S. time zones by January 1, 2026, for healthcare appointments and referrals.

This aims to improve access and responsiveness for veterans needing assistance with healthcare scheduling across different geographic regions.

SPONSORSHIP

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ACTION TIMELINE

4 EVENTS

JUL 30

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

COMMITTEE

MAR 11

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35.

COMMITTEE

MAR 4

Introduced in Senate

INTROREFERRAL

MAR 4

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

INTROREFERRAL

BILL INFO

TypeSenate Bill

NumberS 831

Congress119th

StatusReported

IntroducedMar 4, 2025

Last actionJul 30, 2025

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REPORTED· 119TH CONGRESS · VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 4, 2025

Senate BillS 831Telephone and wireless communicationDepartment of Veterans Affairs

REP VA Act

INTRODUCED MAR 4, 2025· LAST ACTION JUL 30, 2025

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

2 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 3 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed Senate

Passed House

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

Requires all VA outbound calls to veterans regarding services or benefits to originate from a single, well-known telephone number by January 1, 2026.

This aims to increase trust and reduce confusion for veterans receiving calls from the VA, helping them identify legitimate communications.

high

Mandates that VA outbound calls use caller identification branding that clearly indicates the call is from or on behalf of the Department.

This further clarifies the origin of calls, protecting veterans from scams and ensuring they answer important calls.

high

Requires the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to establish at least one call center in each of the six specified U.S. time zones by January 1, 2026, for healthcare appointments and referrals.

This aims to improve access and responsiveness for veterans needing assistance with healthcare scheduling across different geographic regions.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

January 1, 2026

VA must ensure all calls to veterans from employees or contractors regarding services/benefits use a single, well-known telephone number and caller ID branding.

January 1, 2026

Veterans Health Administration must have at least one call center in each specified time zone for health care appointments and referrals.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Secretary: Refers to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): A U.S. government agency that provides healthcare services, benefits programs, and national cemeteries to military veterans and their families.
Veterans Health Administration (VHA): The largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, providing healthcare services to eligible military veterans through VA medical centers and clinics.
Caller identification branding: The name or information displayed on a recipient's phone screen to identify who is calling, beyond just the phone number.
Title 38, United States Code: The section of U.S. law that specifically deals with veterans' benefits and services.
Chapter 63: A specific part of Title 38 that covers outreach activities by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION TIMELINE

4 EVENTS

JUL 30, 25

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

COMMITTEE

MAR 11, 25

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35.

COMMITTEE

MAR 4, 25

Introduced in Senate

INTROREFERRAL

MAR 4, 25

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

INTROREFERRAL

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Committee Referrals

Veterans' Affairs CommitteeReferred

Jul 30, 2025

senate

Related Hearings

Hearings to examine S.124, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for disciplinary procedures for supervisors and managers at the Department of Veterans Affairs and to modify the procedures of personnel actions against employees of the Department, S.201, to provide for a study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on the prevalence and mortality of cancer among individuals who served as active duty aircrew in the Armed Forces, S.275, to improve the provision of care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.410, to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and services for surviving spouses, S.478, to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from transmitting certain information to the Department of Justice for use by the national instant criminal background check system, S.607, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an integrated project team to improve the process for scheduling appointments for health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.610, to expand the VetSuccess on Campus program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.611, to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve and to expand eligibility for dependency and indemnity compensation paid to certain survivors of certain veterans, S.654, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an external provider scheduling program to assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in scheduling appointments for care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program, S.702, to require a study on the quality of care difference between mental health and addiction therapy care provided by health care providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs compared to non-Department providers, S.787, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a commission to review operations at the Veterans Health Administration and submit to Congress reports with respect to that review, and for other programs, S.831, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve telephone communication by the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.892, to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the repayment by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of benefits misused by a fiduciary, an original bill entitled, "Veterans' Claims Act of 2025", and an original bill entitled, "Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act".

Veterans' Affairs Committee (senate)Mar 11, 2025

Transcript Video

Business meeting to consider S.275, to improve the provision of care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.506, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to coordinate, navigate, and manage care and benefits for veterans enrolled in both the Medicare program and the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.607, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an integrated project team to improve the process for scheduling appointments for health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.610, to expand the VetSuccess on Campus program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.635, to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recognize nurse registries for purposes of the Veterans Community Care Program, S.654, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an external provider scheduling program to assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in scheduling appointments for care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program, S.702, to require a study on the quality of care difference between mental health and addiction therapy care provided by health care providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs compared to non-Department providers, S.778, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require a lactation space in each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.787, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a commission to review operations at the Veterans Health Administration and submit to Congress reports with respect to that review, and for other programs, S.800, to modify the Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.827, to extend and modify the transportation grant program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.831, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve telephone communication by the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.879, to expand medical, employment, and other benefits for individuals serving as family caregivers for certain veterans, S.972, to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made by such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, S.1139, to amend the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 to modify and reauthorize the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.1245, to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand health care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for military sexual trauma, S.1318, to direct the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a program to identify American-Jewish servicemembers buried in United States military cemeteries overseas under markers that incorrectly represent their religion and heritage, S.1320, to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take certain steps regarding research related to menopause, perimenopause, or mid-life women's health, S.1383, to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, S.1441, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to nonprofit entities to assist such entities in carrying out programs to provide service dogs to eligible veterans, S.1533, to amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent and codify the pilot program for use of contract physicians for disability examinations, S.1591, to amend title 38, United States Code, to reorganize the acquisition structure of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to establish the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation in the Department, S.2392, to increase, effective as of December 1, 2025, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and S.2393, to authorize a major medical facility project for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.

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REP VA Act

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REP VA Act

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