A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Standards, Transparency, Accountability, Notification, and Disclosure for Vets Act or the STAND for Vets Act. It stops Department of Veterans Affairs officials and employees from taking part in contracts or agreements with private entities if they used to work for, serve on a board of, own, or receive benefits from those private entities. If a conflict arises, the employee must give a written disclosure to the Secretary within three business days, and the Secretary must pass that disclosure to the congressional Veterans' Affairs committees within three business days. The bill also bans Department officials from meeting with federal election candidates during the 180 days before an election or on election day, unless specific written notice is given to Congress ahead of time or it falls under certain official duties. Finally, the bill requires the Comptroller General to review the staffing, models, and incentives of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General and report back to Congress within one year.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill introduces mandatory disclosures for potential conflicts of interest and reporting requirements to congressional committees.
- Scored +4
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The legislation directly addresses Department of Veterans Affairs operations, conflicts of interest, and oversight to better serve veterans.
- Scored +4
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
The bill requires transparency and disclosures regarding potential conflicts of interest in VA contracts, enhancing governmental oversight.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(a) adds section 513(b)(1) to title 38, which stops Department officials and employees from working on contracts with private entities if they have past employment, board service, ownership, or received compensation from those private entities. This is positive because it holds officials accountable and prevents potential conflicts of interest when dealing with private companies.
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Section 2(a) adds section 513(b)(2) to title 38, which requires employees to submit a written disclosure of their relationship with a private entity within three business days, and forces the Secretary to share this with congressional committees within three business days. This brings transparency to the people by ensuring Congress is quickly notified of potential conflicts.
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Section 2(b) adds section 712 to title 38, which bans Department officials from meeting with election candidates during the 180 days leading up to an election or on election day, unless Congress is notified in writing at least seven days prior. This can be viewed positively as a way to keep Department officials from mixing agency business with election campaigns.
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Section 2(c) requires the Comptroller General to review the staffing levels, models, and incentives of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General and report to Congress. This provides oversight to make sure the Inspector General's office is properly equipped to carry out its mission for the people.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 2(b) adds section 712 to title 38, which bans Department officials from meeting with election candidates in the 180 days before an election or on election day. This could be seen as a burden or negative if a candidate needs to discuss urgent constituent or veteran issues with Department officials during that time frame, and the seven-day advance notice to Congress was not met.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The legislation directly addresses Department of Veterans Affairs operations, conflicts of interest, and oversight to better serve veterans. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Many veterans are seniors, and improving VA oversight and accountability can positively impact older veterans relying on the system.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill introduces mandatory disclosures for potential conflicts of interest and reporting requirements to congressional committees.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill requires transparency and disclosures regarding potential conflicts of interest in VA contracts, enhancing governmental oversight.
- Healthcare
- Does this help veterans get medical care? — By reducing conflicts of interest in VA contracting and mandating GAO reviews of the VA Inspector General, the bill aims to improve the integrity of VA operations.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill ensures better accountability and oversight within the Department of Veterans Affairs, which serves veterans.
- 11/11/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Introduced in House