January 23, 2025
Mrs. Kim (for herself, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Ciscomani, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Lawler, and Mr. Cisneros) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program to permit certain members of the Armed Forces to pre-enroll in the system of annual patient enrollment established and operated under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Combat Veterans Pre-Enrollment Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Pilot program for pre-enrollment of certain members of the Armed Forces in system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs
(a) In general
Not later than October 1, 2027, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a program to carry out, to the maximum extent practicable, all activities necessary to permit a member of the Armed Forces specified in subsection (b) to elect to enroll in the system of annual patient enrollment established and operated under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, on the date of the separation of such member from active military, naval, air, or space service.
(b) Member of the Armed Forces specified
A member of the Armed Forces specified in this subsection is a member of the Armed Forces that the Secretary determines—
(1)
is performing active military, naval, air, or space service;
(2)
would be eligible for enrollment in the system of annual patient enrollment established and operated under such section on the date of the separation of such member from such service; and
(3)
is described in section 1710(e)(1)(D) of title 38, United States Code.
(c) Pre-Enrollment mechanism
(1) In general
Under the program required by subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in conjunction with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall establish a mechanism to permit a member of the Armed Forces specified in subsection (b) to elect to pre-enroll in such system of annual patient enrollment, pursuant to the program required by subsection (a), during the 180-day period that precedes the date of the separation of such member from active military, naval, air, or space service.
(2) Briefings on mechanism
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the duration of the program required by subsection (a), the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee established under section 320 of title 38, United States Code, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on efforts of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense with respect to the implementation of the mechanism required by paragraph (1) during the period covered by the briefing.
(d) Report on pre-Enrolled members
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the duration of such program, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes, with respect to the fiscal year that precedes the period covered by the report—
(1)
the number of members of the Armed Forces specified in subsection (b) who—
(A)
elected to participate in such program and who were subsequently—
(i)
enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment established and operated under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code; and
(ii)
denied enrollment in such system; and
(B)
elected not to participate in such program; and
(2)
aggregated demographic information on members of the Armed Forces described in paragraph (1), including—
(A)
age;
(B)
ethnicity;
(C)
duration of active military, naval, air, or space service;
(D)
grade; and
(E)
Armed Force.
(e) Termination date
The authority of the Secretary to carry out the program required by subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is three years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(f) GAO report on program
Not later than the date that is two years after the date of the termination of such authority, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes—
(1)
an analysis of the effectiveness of the program required by subsection (a) with respect to the enrollment of members of the Armed Forces specified in subsection (b) in the system of annual patient enrollment established and operated under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code; and
(2)
recommendations of the Comptroller General, if any, with respect to methods to improve to such program.
(g) Definitions
In this section:
(1)
The term active military, naval, air, or space service has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
(2)
The term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A)
the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate; and
(B)
the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate.