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
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Veterans Emergency Treatment and Shelter Access Act
or the VETS Access Act
.
Sec. 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.