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
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.
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 Protecting our Forces’ Benefits Act
or the PFB Act
.
Sec. 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.