H.R. 10654House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

PFB Act

To ensure that a member separated from an Armed Force, solely on the basis that the member has pseudofolliculitis barbae, receives an honorable discharge and veterans benefits.

Also known as Protecting our Forces’ Benefits Act

Introduced October 1, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated October 6, 2026 at 5:43 AM UTC

The Protecting our Forces' Benefits (PFB) Act makes sure that any service member who is separated from the military only because they have pseudofolliculitis barbae—a skin condition that affects facial hair—receives an honorable discharge and can claim veterans benefits. It changes how the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs treat these separations, preventing the condition from being used to deny benefits.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary of Defense must label a separation that is solely due to pseudofolliculitis barbae as an honorable discharge.
  • Veterans Affairs cannot deny benefits to such a former service member by citing a failure to meet the usual minimum active‑duty service requirement.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

October 14, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 1, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

October 1, 2026

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

October 14, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 1, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10654

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 1, 2026

Mr. Conaway (for himself, Mr. Bell, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Norton, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Veasey, and Ms. Wilson of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To ensure that a member separated from an Armed Force, solely on the basis that the member has pseudofolliculitis barbae, receives an honorable discharge and veterans benefits.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting our Forces’ Benefits Act or the PFB Act.

2.

Member of the Armed Forces separated on the sole basis of pseudofolliculitis barbae: honorable discharge; eligibility for veterans benefits

(a)

Honorable discharge

The Secretary concerned (as such term is defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code) shall characterize the separation of a member from an Armed Force, solely on the basis that the member has pseudofolliculitis barbae, as honorable.

(b)

Veterans benefits

A member separated from an Armed Force solely because the member has pseudofolliculitis barbae may not be treated as ineligible for a benefit administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the basis that the member has not completed the applicable minimum active-duty service requirement established in section 5303A of title 38, United States Code.