S. 2558Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Nursing Home Care for Native American Veterans Act

Introduced September 26, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 8:27 AM UTC

The Nursing Home Care for Native American Veterans Act changes federal veterans law so that Indian tribes are treated like states for the VA’s State home (nursing‑home) program. This lets the Department of Veterans Affairs give grants and other support to nursing homes for veterans that are located on tribal lands. The bill also requires the VA to consult with tribes, report to Congress, and provide technical assistance to make the program work for tribal facilities.

Key Provisions

  • Adds Indian tribes to the definition of “State” for the VA’s State home program, allowing tribal‑run nursing homes to receive VA funding.
  • Authorizes the VA Secretary to make grants and provide technical support to tribal nursing homes that serve veterans.
  • Mandates the VA to consult with tribes within 180 days of enactment to identify any needed legislative or administrative changes.
  • Requires the VA to report its findings and recommendations to the Senate Veterans’ Affairs and Indian Affairs committees and the House Veterans’ Affairs and Natural Resources committees within 90 days of the consultation.
  • Allows the VA to modify regulations for the State home program, when no new legislation is needed, based on tribal input.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions
SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 541.

September 15, 2020

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 26, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

September 26, 2019

SenateCommittee

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

August 5, 2020

SenateCommittee

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran without amendment. Without written report.

September 15, 2020

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 541.

September 15, 2020

Bill Text

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Latest
Reported to SenateIssued September 15, 2020

II

Calendar No. 541

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2558

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 26, 2019

Ms. Sinema (for herself and Mr. Cramer) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

September 15, 2020

Reported by Mr. Moran, without amendment

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make certain grants to assist nursing homes for veterans located on tribal lands.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Nursing Home Care for Native American Veterans Act.

2.

Grants for State homes located on tribal lands

(a)

State home defined

Section 101(19) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting or Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) after (other than a possession).

(b)

Payments to State homes

Section 1741 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(g)

In this subchapter, the term State means each of the several States and each Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).

.

(c)

State home construction

(1)

In general

Section 8131(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting includes each Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) but before does not.

(2)

Conforming amendment

Section 8132 of such title is amended by striking several.

(d)

Additional legislative or administrative action

(1)

Consultation with Indian tribes

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consult with Indian tribes to determine if any legislative or administrative action is necessary to modify the State home program to function efficiently in support of State homes operated by Indian tribes pursuant to the amendments made by this section.

(2)

Report to Congress

Not later than 90 days after completing consultations under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report recommending legislative action that the Secretary considers appropriate to modify the State home program described in such paragraph in light of those consultations.

(3)

Modifications

Not later than 180 days after completing consultations under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall make any modifications to regulations implementing the State home program, for which legislative action is not necessary, as the Secretary considers appropriate in light of those consultations.

(e)

Technical support and assistance

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide technical support and assistance to Indian tribes in carrying out the State home program at State homes operated by Indian tribes pursuant to the amendments made by this section.

(f)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Appropriate committees of Congress

The term appropriate committees of Congress means—

(A)

the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate; and

(B)

the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States of the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.

(2)

Indian tribe

The term Indian tribe has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).

(3)

State home

The term State home has the meaning given that term in section 101(19) of title 38, United States Code.

(4)

State home program

The term State home program means the program of the Department of Veterans Affairs for which payments are made under subchapter V of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, and assistance is provided under subchapter III of chapter 81 of such title.

September 15, 2020

Reported without amendment