Bill · S. 609· Senate(119-S-609)
BRAVE Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/18/2025
- Last activity
- 2/18/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Richard Blumenthal
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The BRAVE Act of 2025 aims to improve the mental health services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. It includes provisions to review pay disparities for counseling positions and adjust qualifications for certain mental health professionals. The bill also seeks to expand Vet Center infrastructure, improve outreach through demographic data, and enhance mental health services specifically for women veterans. Additionally, it establishes a pilot program for veterans with spinal cord injuries and extends the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. Finally, it mandates joint reports to improve the transition of service members into civilian life.
Yes· 3 of 6
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+8
The bill significantly enhances mental health support, suicide prevention, and service coordination for the veteran population.
Does this make mental health care easier to get?+8
The bill expands mental health services through Vet Center expansion, suicide prevention grants, and specialized residential treatment programs.
Would women be better off under this?+7
The bill mandates studies on outreach effectiveness for women and modifies the REACH VET program to include female-specific risk factors.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Compensation and Staffing: The bill requires a report on pay disparities for Readjustment Counseling Service positions to address pay-related staffing challenges (Sec. 101).
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Flexible Staffing Qualifications: The act allows for the waiver of licensure or certification requirements for licensed professional mental health counselors for a reasonable period of time to support mental health programs (Sec. 102).
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Better Coordination of Care: The bill mandates a report to ensure Veterans Health Administration facilities are aligned with Vet Centers to better serve veterans, particularly those at high risk for suicide (Sec. 103).
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Expanded Vet Center Footprint: A report will assess the expansion of Vet Centers, considering demand in rural areas and the needs of veterans in high-risk areas (Sec. 202).
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Tailored Outreach for Women Veterans: The bill requires studies on the effectiveness of suicide prevention and mental health outreach specifically for women veterans (Sec. 301).
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Specialized Treatment for Women: The REACH VET program will be modified to include risk factors weighted for women, such as military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence (Sec. 302).
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Improved Retreat Options: The Secretary will review if there is a need for more specific group retreats, such as those for women or those with disabled access (Sec. 303).
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Expanded Suicide Prevention Funding: The Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program is extended and its funding increased from $750,000 to $1,000,000 (Sec. 401).
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Specialized Care for Spinal Cord Injuries: A pilot program will be created to provide mental health residential treatment for veterans with spinal cord injuries or disorders (Sec. 402).
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Proactive Mental Health Support: The bill requires the Department to offer annual mental health consultations and outreach to veterans receiving compensation for mental health disabilities (Sec. 403).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated within 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 Veterans+8Good For Women+7Good For People With Disabilities+6
- Healthcare
- Improves Mental Health Access+8
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+7
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Disability Rights+5
- 9/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/18/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 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.
Lisa Blunt RochesterDemocrat · Delaware
Angus KingIndependent · Maine
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire