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H.R. 10555House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

VETS Access Act

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide care, treatment, and rehabilitative services to veterans suffering from serious mental illness and veterans who are homeless, regardless of whether such veteran is eligible for hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care, and for other purposes.

Also known as Veterans Emergency Treatment and Shelter Access Act

Sponsored by Jared F. GoldenRep. Jared F. Golden (D-ME)
Introduced September 24, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated September 28, 2026 at 12:52 PM UTC

The Veterans Emergency Treatment and Shelter Access Act would let the Department of Veterans Affairs give care, treatment, and rehabilitation to veterans who have serious mental illness or who are homeless, even if those veterans don’t meet the usual eligibility rules for hospital, nursing‑home, or domiciliary care. The change would apply to all such veterans nationwide and would take effect 90 days after the law is passed.

Key Provisions

  • The VA Secretary may provide services directly or contract with community‑based facilities, including halfway houses, for veterans with serious mental illness or who are homeless, regardless of their eligibility for traditional VA inpatient care.
  • The definition of “veteran” in the eligibility rules is updated to reference the new subsection (2031) that contains this authority.
  • The new authority becomes effective 90 days after the act’s enactment.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

Economic Opportunity Subcommittee

September 30, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 24, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

September 24, 2026

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

Economic Opportunity Subcommittee

September 30, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 24, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10555

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 24, 2026

Mr. Golden of Maine (for himself and Mr. Lawler) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide care, treatment, and rehabilitative services to veterans suffering from serious mental illness and veterans who are homeless, regardless of whether such veteran is eligible for hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterans Emergency Treatment and Shelter Access Act or the VETS Access Act.

2.

Eligibility for treatment of veterans suffering from serious mental illness and veterans who are homeless

(a)

Eligibility

Section 2031 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(c)

Notwithstanding the requirements of section 1710 of this title, the Secretary may provide care, treatment, and rehabilitative services (directly or by contract in community-based treatment facilities, including halfway houses) to veterans suffering from serious mental illness and veterans who are homeless, regardless of whether such veteran is eligible for hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care under such section.

.

(b)

Applicable definition of veteran

Section 2002(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting 2031, after 2013,.

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.