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I
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10948
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 29, 2026

Mr. Van Orden (for himself, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Ms. King-Hinds, Mr. Harrigan, Mr. Bilirakis, and Mr. Pfluger) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the veterans’ employment emphasis under Federal contracts to military spouses, to increase thresholds relating to the applicability of such emphases, 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 Hire Our Heroes Act.

Sec. 2. Veterans' employment emphasis under Federal contracts: increased thresholds; extension to military spouses; disclosures

(a) Definitions: reorganization; additions

(1) Reorganization

Paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of section 4212 of title 38, United States Code, as amended, is redesignated as subsection (e) of such section.

(2) Technical amendments

Such subsection (e) is amended by redesignating—

(A)

subparagraphs (A) and (B) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively; and

(B)

clauses (i) through (iv) of paragraph (1), as so redesignated, as subparagraphs (A) through (D) of such paragraph, respectively.

(3) New definitions

Such subsection (e) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

(3)

The term covered contractor means an entity that—

(A)

has annual revenue that equals or exceeds $1,000,000,000; or

(B)

is awarded, as prime contractor, at least $25,000,000 in Federal contracts in one year.

(4)

The term military spouse means—

(A)

the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces; or

(B)

an individual who—

(i)

is the former spouse of a member of the Armed Forces; and

(ii)

was married to such member for a period—

(I)

not shorter than two years; and

(II)

during which the member performed at least two years of service on active duty.

(4) Conforming amendment

Section 4214 of title 38, United States Code, is amended, in subsection (a)(2)(B), by striking a veteran described in section 4212(a)(3) and inserting a veteran described in section 4212(e).

(b) Applicability to covered contractors

(1) In general

Section 4212 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(A)

by inserting covered before contractor each place it appears;

(B)

in paragraph (1) of subsection (a)—

(i)

by inserting with a covered contractor after of the United States; and

(ii)

by striking party contracting with the United States and inserting covered contractor;

(C)

in subsection (b), by inserting covered before contractor’s; and

(D)

in subsection (c), by inserting covered before contractors.

(2) Increased minimum contract amount

Such section is further amended, in subsection (a), by striking $100,000 both places it appears and inserting $5,000,000.

(c) Hiring and advancement of military spouses

Section 4212 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by inserting and qualified military spouses after qualified covered veterans each place it appears;

(2)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

by striking veteran covered by the first sentence of subsection (a) and inserting qualified covered veteran or qualified military spouse;

(B)

by striking employment of veterans and inserting employment of qualified covered veterans and qualified military spouses; and

(C)

by striking the veteran and inserting the qualified covered veteran or qualified military spouse; and

(3)

in subsection (c), by inserting and military spouses after veterans.

(d) Required disclosures

(1) In general

Subsection (d) of section 4212 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

(d)

Each covered contractor seeking a contract described in subsection (a), or institution of higher education or research entity seeking a Federal grant in an amount that exceeds $10,000,000 in one year, shall—

(1)

report to the head of the department or agency of the United States soliciting bids for the contract—

(A)

the number of covered veterans and military spouses hired by such covered contractor, institution of higher education, or research entity during the most recent periods of 12 and 36 months;

(B)

the number of covered veterans and military spouses described in subparagraph (A) still employed by such covered contractor, institution of higher education, or research entity, 12 months and 24 months after hiring; and

(C)

a written narrative of such efforts during the most recent period of 12 months, or planned efforts during performance of the contract or use of the Federal grant, to hire and advance covered veterans and military spouses, including—

(i)

philanthropic giving (including giving disclosed pursuant to section 6033 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 6033)) and volunteer activities;

(ii)

the dollar amount and percentage of total philanthropic giving dedicated to military and veteran organizations; and

(iii)

the extent to which the chief executive and executive leadership of the covered contractor, institution of higher education, or research entity team shall directly oversee such activities, efforts, or performance; and

(2)

prominently publish on the publicly available website of the covered contractor, institution of higher education, or research entity, the information described in paragraph (1).

(2) Enforcement

Section 4212 of title 38, United States Code, is amended, in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

(3)

A covered contractor may not enter into a contract or subcontract described in this subsection unless the covered contractor complies with subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1), and paragraph (2), of subsection (d).

(4)

No Federal grant in an amount that exceeds $10,000,000 in one year may be awarded to an institution of higher education or a research entity unless such institution of higher education or research entity complies with subsection (d).