H.R. 2554 – Know Your Vets Act

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 4:48 AM UTC

The Know Your Vets Act would make it easier for service members who are separating or retiring to get help from their local county veterans service officers. It requires the Department of Defense to send the member’s DD‑214 discharge paperwork directly to the appropriate county officer based on the member’s mailing address, and it calls for a shared database of all county veterans service officers.

Key Provisions

The Secretary of Defense must give separating or retiring service members the option to have their DD‑214 automatically forwarded to the county veterans service officer that serves their address.
The Department of Defense, working with the Department of Veterans Affairs, must create and maintain a database listing every county veterans service officer.
The bill defines a “county veterans service officer” as an employee of a county, local, or Tribal government who meets the existing federal regulations for that role.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Military Personnel Subcommittee

May 8, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 7, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

May 7, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Military Personnel Subcommittee

May 8, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 7, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2554

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 7, 2019

Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Mr. Gallagher) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To improve the ability of separating or retiring members of the Armed Forces to seek services provided by county veterans service officers.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Know Your Vets Act.

2.

Information regarding county veterans service officers

(a)

Provision of information

The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that a member of the Armed Forces who is separating or retiring from the Armed Forces may elect to have the Department of Defense form DD–214 of the member transmitted to the appropriate county veterans service officer based on the mailing address provided by the member.

(b)

Database

The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall maintain a database of all county veterans service officers.

(c)

County veterans service officer defined

In this section, the term county veterans service officer means an employee of a county government, local government, or Tribal government who is covered by section 14.629(a)(2) of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations.