Bill · H.R. 1147· House(119-HR-1147)
Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/7/2025
- Last activity
- 5/20/2025 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- David Valadao
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 3
- Introduced
- Passed House
- In Senate committee
What this bill would do
This Act establishes the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access to improve Department accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The committee will consist of 15 voting members and four ex officio members tasked with advising the Secretary on accessibility for information, services, benefits, and facilities. Members will assess needs, provide compliance assessments, and submit reports every two years regarding access barriers and improvements. The Secretary is required to share these reports with specific congressional committees and publish them online. Additionally, the Act includes a provision to extend the limitation on certain pension payments for veterans admitted to nursing facilities. The Advisory Committee is set to terminate seven years after the Act's enactment.
Yes· 3 of 8
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?+9
The act establishes a committee to specifically address and improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+8
The bill directly enhances accessibility to benefits and services for veterans with disabilities.
Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities?+8
The act creates an advisory committee specifically to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Accessibility for Veterans with Disabilities: The creation of the Advisory Committee aims to improve the accessibility of Department information, services, benefits, and facilities for individuals with disabilities (Section 2(a)(1) and Section 2(f)(1)(A)).
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Expert Oversight of Accessibility Compliance: The committee includes experts and employees from the Section 508 Office and the Architectural Accessibility Program to oversee compliance with Federal accessibility laws (Section 2(b)(1)(B) and Section 2(b)(1)(C)).
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Diverse Representation in Advisory Roles: The committee mandates that four members be veterans with disabilities, including those with mobility, hearing, visual, and mental or cognitive disabilities (Section 2(b)(1)(A)).
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Advocacy through Service Organizations: Five members are designated as representatives from veterans service organizations that advocate for those with physical, sensory, mental, or cognitive disabilities (Section 2(b)(1)(D)).
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Extended Pension Payment Limitations: The bill extends the date for certain pension payments for veterans admitted to nursing facilities to January 31, 2032 (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Temporary Nature of the Committee: The Advisory Committee is scheduled to terminate seven years after the enactment of the Act (Section 2(h)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For People With Disabilities+9Good For Veterans+8Good For Retirees+5Good For Seniors+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Disability Rights+8
- Healthcare
- Improves Veterans Healthcare+7
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+7
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+5
- 5/20/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 5/19/2025
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2123-2124)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2123-2124)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1147.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2123-2124)
- Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 2/21/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/7/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Julia BrownleyDemocrat · California
Josh GottheimerDemocrat · New Jersey
Morgan McGarveyDemocrat · Kentucky