Bill · H.R. 5635· House(119-HR-5635)
Veterans Healthcare Equality Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 9/30/2025
- Last activity
- 10/15/2025 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Sponsored by
- Timothy Kennedy
- Cosponsors
- - 28 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Veterans Healthcare Equality Act of 2025 aims to amend title 38 of the United States Code. This bill seeks to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity regarding the provision of health care administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. It specifically targets the prevention of discrimination in hospital, medical, and extended care services. The Act also prohibits the denial of medically necessary treatments for gender dysphoria that are prescribed by a health care provider. Additionally, it requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide regular briefings to Congressional committees regarding these matters.
Yes· 3 of 6
Would LGBTQ people be better off under this?+9
The bill provides explicit non-discrimination protections and access to gender-affirming care for transgender individuals within the VA.
Does this expand the rights of LGBTQ people?+9
The bill explicitly prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and protects against intentional misgendering in veterans' healthcare.
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+7
The bill protects the healthcare rights of transgender veterans by prohibiting the denial of medically necessary treatments.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection from discrimination: The bill prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from discriminating on the basis of gender identity (Section 3(a)(1)(A)). This is intended to ensure transgender veterans receive health benefits free from discrimination, including protection from intentional and repeated misgendering (Section 2).
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Access to medical treatments: The bill prevents the denial of medically necessary treatments for gender dysphoria that have been prescribed by a health care provider (Section 3(a)(1)(B)). This aims to ensure the Department fulfills its obligation to provide these services (Section 2).
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Comprehensive care coverage: The prohibition of discrimination extends to the furnishing of hospital care, medical services, and extended care services (Section 3(a)(2)).
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Increased oversight: The Secretary is required to provide quarterly briefings to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House and Senate regarding the care provided to transgender veterans (Section 3(a)(b)). There is also a required initial briefing regarding the implementation of this Act (Section 3(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are mentioned in the provided text.
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 L G B T Q Community+9Good For Veterans+7
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves L G B T Q Rights+9
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+7
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+7
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+5
- 7/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/21/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/15/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 10/14/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/10/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 10/8/2025
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- 10/3/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/30/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 16 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Yassamin AnsariDemocrat · Arizona
Julia BrownleyDemocrat · California
Becca BalintDemocrat · Vermont
Judy ChuDemocrat · California
Angie CraigDemocrat · Minnesota
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormickDemocrat · Florida
Maxine DexterDemocrat · Oregon
Sylvia GarciaDemocrat · Texas
Raja KrishnamoorthiDemocrat · Illinois
Seth MoultonDemocrat · Massachusetts
Morgan McGarveyDemocrat · Kentucky
Kevin MullinDemocrat · California
Sarah McBrideDemocrat · Delaware
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Alexandria Ocasio-CortezDemocrat · New York
Chris PappasDemocrat · New Hampshire
Delia RamirezDemocrat · Illinois
Emily RandallDemocrat · Washington
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California
Paul TonkoDemocrat · New York
Mark TakanoDemocrat · California
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan
Lauren UnderwoodDemocrat · Illinois
Nydia VelázquezDemocrat · New York
Maxine WatersDemocrat · California
Nikema WilliamsDemocrat · Georgia
James WalkinshawDemocrat · Virginia