H.R. 7735House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Improving Mental Health Support for Servicemembers and Veterans Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated March 3, 2026 at 6:36 AM UTC

The Improving Mental Health Support for Servicemembers and Veterans Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs‑Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee to evaluate how well current mental‑health programs help service members and veterans access care, especially during the transition from active duty to civilian life. Within 180 days of the law’s enactment, the committee must submit a detailed report to Congress that lists existing programs, assesses their effectiveness, identifies any gaps or redundancies, and offers concrete recommendations for improvement. The bill also requires the joint separation health assessment to be reviewed at least every two years to keep its questions current. The legislation primarily impacts the VA, the DoD, and the individuals they serve.

Key Provisions

The VA‑DoD Joint Executive Committee must create an inventory of all mental‑health programs and processes that facilitate access across the service‑to‑civilian transition.
The committee must assess the overall effectiveness of those programs, noting any deficiencies, gaps, or inefficiencies such as duplicate efforts.
A report containing the inventory, assessment results, and actionable recommendations (including milestones and metrics) must be delivered to the Senate and House Veterans Affairs committees within 180 days of enactment.
The law adds a requirement that the joint separation health assessment be reviewed at least once every two years to validate, revise, or add questions as needed.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 30, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 26, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

February 26, 2026

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 30, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 26, 2026

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7735

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 26, 2026

Mr. Golden of Maine (for himself, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Suozzi, and Mr. Bacon) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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 require the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee to assess the effectiveness of certain mental health activities of the Departments, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Improving Mental Health Support for Servicemembers and Veterans Act.

Assessments by the Department of Veterans Affairs–Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee of certain mental health activities

(a)

Overall inventory, assessment, and report

(1)

Inventory and assessment

The Department of Veterans Affairs–Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee under section 320 of title 38, United States Code, shall—

(A)

complete an inventory of the programs and processes of the Departments that facilitate access to mental health services across the transition spectrum; and

(B)

conduct an assessment of the overall effectiveness of such programs and processes in facilitating access to such services.

(2)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Joint Executive Committee shall submit to the Committees on Veterans Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the results of the assessment. The report shall include—

(A)

the inventory under paragraph (1)(A);

(B)

the results of the assessment under paragraph (1)(B), including whether the assessment identified any deficiencies, gaps, or inefficiencies (such as duplicative programs);

(C)

recommendations to address the identified deficiencies, gaps, or inefficiencies, if any, including plans of action, milestones, and metrics; and

(D)

any other information or recommendations that the Joint Executive Committee considers appropriate.

(b)

Biennial review of the joint separation health assessment

Section 320(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(7)

Review, at least once every two years, the joint separation health assessment to validate the questions posed by the assessment and to recommend whether any questions should be removed, revised, or added.