S. 3938Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize representatives of veterans service organizations to participate in presentations to promote certain benefits available to veterans during preseparation counseling under the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated March 17, 2026 at 3:51 AM UTC

The TAP Promotion Act amends the law governing the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to let representatives of veterans service organizations (VSOs) take part in preseparation counseling presentations that explain VA benefits. The bill sets standards for those presentations, requires VA and congressional review before they are used, and mandates an annual report on their use.

Key Provisions

Adds a new paragraph (20) to 10 U.S.C. § 1142(b) allowing VSO representatives to participate in TAP preseparation counseling presentations.
The presentation must be standardized, limited to one hour, and cannot promote joining a specific VSO.
It must be reviewed and approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in collaboration with VSOs that provide claims assistance.
The approved presentation must be sent to the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees at least 90 days before it is used.
Participating VSO representatives must be recognized under 38 U.S.C. § 5902 (or individuals recognized under § 5903 and authorized by the Secretary).
The presentation must include information on how VSOs can help service members file VA claims.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must submit an annual report to the congressional Veterans’ Affairs Committees identifying participating VSOs, attendance numbers, and any recommended changes.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

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

Veterans' Affairs Committee

February 26, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 26, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

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

Veterans' Affairs Committee

February 26, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued February 26, 2026

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3938

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 26, 2026

Mr. King (for himself, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Risch, Ms. Rosen, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Kelly, Ms. Collins, Mr. Coons, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Ossoff, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Sanders, and Mr. Scott of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize representatives of veterans service organizations to participate in presentations to promote certain benefits available to veterans during preseparation counseling under the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the TAP Promotion Act.

Presentation to promote benefits available to veterans in preseparation counseling under the Transition Assistance Program

(a)

In general

Section 1142(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(20)

A presentation that promotes the benefits available to veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Such presentation—

(A)

shall be standardized;

(B)

shall, before implementation, be reviewed and approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in collaboration with veterans service organizations that provide claims assistance under the benefits delivery at discharge program of the Department of Veterans Affairs;

(C)

shall be submitted by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives for review at least 90 days before implementation;

(D)

where available, shall be presented with the participation of—

(i)

a representative of a veterans service organization recognized under section 5902 of title 38; or

(ii)

an individual—

(I)

recognized under section 5903 of such title; and

(II)

authorized by the Secretary concerned to so participate;

(E)

shall include information on how a veterans service organization may assist the member in filing a claim described in paragraph (19);

(F)

may not encourage the member to join a particular veterans service organization; and

(G)

may not exceed one hour in duration.

(b)

Annual report

Not less than frequently than once each year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that—

(1)

identifies each veterans service organization that participated in a presentation under paragraph (20) of section 1142(b) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a);

(2)

contains the number of members of the Armed Forces who attended such presentations; and

(3)

includes any recommendations of the Secretary regarding changes to such presentation or to such paragraph.