Bill · S. 3436· Senate(119-S-3436)
Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act
- Introduced
- 12/11/2025
- Last activity
- 12/18/2025 — Held at the desk.
- Sponsored by
- Jerry Moran
- Cosponsors
- - 4 - 5
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Awaiting House
What this bill would do
This Act, known as the "Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act," amends title 38 of the United States Code. It requires the Secretary to provide telehealth and mail order pharmacy benefits to certain veterans in the Freely Associated States within one year of enactment. Additionally, it changes the requirement for beneficiary travel payments from discretionary to mandatory. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must also submit quarterly reports to specific congressional committees regarding implementation and costs. Finally, the bill extends certain limits on pension payments through March 31, 2033.
Yes· 3 of 7
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+8
The bill expands healthcare access and mandates travel payments for veterans.
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?+7
The bill expands healthcare access via telehealth/pharmacy and mandates travel reimbursements for veterans.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+6
The bill mandates the provision of telehealth and mail order pharmacy benefits to veterans in the Freely Associated States.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-1
The bill mandates new expenditures for telehealth, pharmacy, and travel benefits for veterans.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Telehealth and Mail Order Pharmacy Benefits: Veterans in the Freely Associated States will be furnished with telehealth and mail order pharmacy benefits within one year of the act's enactment (Section 2(a)).
-
Beneficiary Travel: The Secretary is required to make payments for beneficiary travel rather than just having the option to do so (Section 2(b)).
-
Pension Payment Limits: Certain limits on payments of pension are extended until March 31, 2033 (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Implementation Costs: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must report on the cost of implementation, indicating that these new requirements will involve expenditures (Section 2(c)).
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 Veterans+8Good For Seniors+4Good For Low Income Households+3
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+7
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+6
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Social Security+2
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Government Spending-1
- 12/18/2025
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 12/17/2025
- Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8874; text: CR S8874)
- 12/11/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 9 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John BoozmanRepublican · Arkansas
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska
James RischRepublican · Idaho
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Brian SchatzDemocrat · Hawaii
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi