S. 2171Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit smoking on the premises of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes.

Introduced June 25, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 23, 2025 at 11:46 PM UTC

The bill amends Title 38 of the U.S. Code to ban smoking in all Veterans Health Administration facilities. It applies to everyone on VA property, covering both traditional tobacco products and electronic nicotine devices. The change updates definitions of a VA facility and of “smoke,” and removes the old provision that previously addressed smoking rules.

Key Provisions

  • No one – veterans, patients, staff, contractors, or visitors – may smoke anywhere on the premises of any Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility.
  • A “facility of the Veterans Health Administration” is defined as any land or building (medical center, nursing home, outpatient clinic, etc.) that is under the Department of Veterans Affairs’ jurisdiction and VHA control, but not controlled by the General Services Administration.
  • The term “smoke” includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, any other tobacco combustion, as well as electronic nicotine delivery systems such as e‑cigarettes, vape pens, and e‑cigars.
  • The existing note in the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 that referenced smoking rules is repealed to reflect the new prohibition.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR S3534)

June 25, 2025

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 25, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR S3534)

June 25, 2025

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 2171 on the floor

1 Democrat
Richard J. Durbin
Sen. Richard J. DurbinD-IL · Jun 25, 2025

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Richard J. Durbin
Sen. Richard J. DurbinD-IL · Jun 25, 2025

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued June 25, 2025

II

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2171

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 25 (legislative day, June 24), 2025

Mr. Durbin (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Booker, and Mrs. Murray) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit smoking on the premises of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes.

1.

Prohibition on smoking in facilities of the Veterans Health Administration

(a)

Prohibition

(1)

In general

Section 1715 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

1715.

Prohibition on smoking in facilities of the Veterans Health Administration

(a)

Prohibition

No person (including any veteran, patient, resident, employee of the Department, contractor, or visitor) may smoke on the premises of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration.

(b)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

The term facility of the Veterans Health Administration means any land or building (including any medical center, nursing home, domiciliary facility, outpatient clinic, or center that provides readjustment counseling) that is—

(A)

under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans Affairs;

(B)

under the control of the Veterans Health Administration; and

(C)

not under the control of the General Services Administration.

(2)

The term smoke includes—

(A)

the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and any other combustion or heating of tobacco; and

(B)

the use of any electronic nicotine delivery system, including electronic or e-cigarettes, vape pens, and e-cigars.

.

(2)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 1715 and inserting the following new item:

1715. Prohibition on smoking in facilities of the Veterans Health Administration.

.

(b)

Conforming amendment

Section 526 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–585; 38 U.S.C. 1715 note) is repealed.