S 423 · 119th Congress · Armed Forces and National Security

PRO Veterans Act of 2025

Introduced February 05, 2025 Latest action August 14, 2025 13 cosponsors

Sponsor

Latest action

Became Public Law No: 119-33.

Action timeline

Every recorded action on this bill, newest first. Stage badges color-code the legislative path.

Aug 14, 2025

signed Signed by President.

Aug 14, 2025

signed Became Public Law No: 119-33.

Aug 12, 2025

sent Presented to President.

Jul 21, 2025

floor Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

Jul 21, 2025

floor Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3484-3487)

Text versions

Each stage of the bill — official text published by GPO. Click any format to read on congress.gov / govinfo.

Aug 15, 2025 Public Law

United States Legislative Markup

Apr 08, 2025 Engrossed in Senate

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Feb 05, 2025 Introduced in Senate

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— Enrolled Bill

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CRS summaries

Plain-English summaries written by the Congressional Research Service — neutral, nonpartisan staff who summarize bills as they advance through stages. The authoritative description of what each version of the bill does.

00 Introduced in Senate Feb 05, 2025

Protecting Regular Order for Veterans Act of 2025 or the PRO Veterans Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide quarterly budget briefings to Congress and prohibits the VA from providing specified pay incentives to senior level employees. First, the bill requires VA to provide quarterly budget briefings to Congress, which must include information on any budget shortfalls the VA may be experiencing. The VA must present its plans to address or mitigate shortfalls during such briefings. Next, the bill prohibits the VA from providing certain senior level employees with a critical skill incentive, which is generally a payment bonus for employees possessing a high-demand skill or skill that is at a shortage. Specifically, the VA may not provide such an incentive to an employee in a Senior Executive Service position or other comparable position at the central office of the VA (e.g., the Veterans Health Administration), regardless of the actual location where the employee performs the functions of the position. The bill also provides that an incentive may be provided to senior-level employees on an individual basis and upon approval by specified officers (e.g., the Under Secretary for Health). Additionally, senior-level employees whose positions are primarily at the central office of the VA but perform some portion of the job function at other VA facilities are exempt from the prohibition. The VA must report to Congress annually regarding senior-level employees who were provided a critical skill incentive.

via Congressional Research Service · published through congress.gov

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`ih` / `is` — Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.

`rfh` / `rfs` — Referred to a committee for review.

`rh` / `rs` — Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).

`pcs` / `pch` — Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.

`eh` / `es` — Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.

`rdh` / `rds` — Received by the other chamber.

`eah` / `eas` — Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.

`ath` / `ats` — Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.

`enr` — Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.

`pl` — Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.

`pp` — Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.

Most bills die before `eh`/`es`. Going from `pcs` → `enr` is the full path through both chambers.

Line-level diff between text versions of this bill — what actually changed at each legislative stage.

+139 −159 77 unchanged

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--- Engrossed (Senate)

+++ Enrolled

@@ -1,64 +1,62 @@

[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

-[S. 423 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

-<DOC>

-119th CONGRESS

-1st Session

-S. 423

-_______________________________________________________________________

-AN ACT

+[S. 423 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

+S.423

+One Hundred Nineteenth Congress

+of the

+United States of America

+AT THE FIRST SESSION

+Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday,

+the third day of January, two thousand and twenty five

+An Act

To protect regular order for budgeting for the Department of Veterans

Affairs, 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. PROTECTING REGULAR ORDER FOR VETERANS.

(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Protecting

Regular Order for Veterans Act of 2025'' or the ``PRO Veterans Act of

2025''.

(b) Quarterly Briefings on Department of Veterans Affairs Budgetary

Shortfalls.--

(1) Quarterly briefings.--

-(A) Quarterly briefings required.--During the first

-quarter beginning after the date of the enactment of

-this Act and in each quarter thereafter until the date

-that is three years after the date of the enactment of

-this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall

-provide to the appropriate committees of Congress a

-quarterly briefing, in person, on the budget of the

-Department of Veterans Affairs and any shortfall the

-Department may be experiencing.

-(B) Plans.--In any case in which the Secretary

-informs Congress during a briefing under paragraph (1)

-that the Department is experiencing a shortfall, the

-Secretary shall, during such briefing, present the

-plans of the Secretary to address or mitigate the

-shortfall.

+(A) Quarterly briefings required.--During the first quarter

+beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act and in

+each quarter thereafter until the date that is three years

+after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of

+Veterans Affairs shall provide to the appropriate committees of

+Congress a quarterly briefing, in person, on the budget of the

+Department of Veterans Affairs and any shortfall the Department

+may be experiencing.

+(B) Plans.--In any case in which the Secretary informs

+Congress during a briefing under paragraph (1) that the

+Department is experiencing a shortfall, the Secretary shall,

+during such briefing, present the plans of the Secretary to

+address or mitigate the shortfall.

(2) Definitions.--In this subsection:

(A) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term

``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--

-(i) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and

-the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;

-and

-(ii) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and

-the Committee on Appropriations of the House of

+(i) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the

+Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and

+(ii) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the

+Committee on Appropriations of the House of

Representatives.

-(B) Shortfall.--The term ``shortfall'', with

-respect to a fiscal year, means that the amount of

-appropriations required by the Department of Veterans

-Affairs for such fiscal year to meet all of the

-statutory obligations of the Department during that

-fiscal year exceeds the amount of appropriations

-requested for the Department for that fiscal year in

-the budget of the President submitted pursuant to

-section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, for

-that fiscal year.

+(B) Shortfall.--The term ``shortfall'', with respect to a

+fiscal year, means that the amount of appropriations required

+by the Department of Veterans Affairs for such fiscal year to

+meet all of the statutory obligations of the Department during

+that fiscal year exceeds the amount of appropriations requested

+for the Department for that fiscal year in the budget of the

+President submitted pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31,

+United States Code, for that fiscal year.

Senior Executive Service Employees of Department of Veterans Affairs.--

Section 706(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at

@@ -77,22 +75,22 @@

position, or a position in another comparable system for senior-level

Government employees, as defined by the Secretary, not described in

subparagraph (A) of this paragraph may only be provided--

-``(I) on an individual basis and may not be provided to a

-group of such employees; and

-``(II) upon approval of the following officers or those

-serving in an acting capacity:

+``(I) on an individual basis and may not be provided to a group

+of such employees; and

+``(II) upon approval of the following officers or those serving

+in an acting capacity:

``(aa) The Under Secretary for Benefits, the Under

-Secretary for Health, or the Under Secretary for

-Memorial Affairs.

-``(bb) The Assistant Secretary for Human Resources

-and Administration.

-``(cc) The Director of the Office of Management or

-the Chief Financial Officer.

-``(dd) The Assistant Secretary for Accountability

-and Whistleblower Protection.

+Secretary for Health, or the Under Secretary for Memorial

+Affairs.

+``(bb) The Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and

+Administration.

+``(cc) The Director of the Office of Management or the

+Chief Financial Officer.

+``(dd) The Assistant Secretary for Accountability and

+Whistleblower Protection.

``(ee) The General Counsel.

-``(ff) Such other officers as the Secretary

-determines appropriate.

+``(ff) Such other officers as the Secretary determines

+appropriate.

``(ii) In the case of an employee of the Department employed in a

Senior Executive Service position, or a position in another comparable

system for senior-level Government employees, as defined by the

@@ -101,14 +99,14 @@

function at other facilities of the Department, as defined by the

Secretary, not at Central Office--

``(I) the employee shall not be considered described in

-subparagraph (A) with respect to the portion of the employee's

-job function that is based out of non-Central Office facilities

-of the Department; and

-``(II) any critical skill incentive provided under

-paragraph (1) to the employee for the portion of the employee's

-job function that is based out of facilities of the Department

-other than the Central Office shall be proportionate to the

-time spent at those Department facilities.

+subparagraph (A) with respect to the portion of the employee's job

+function that is based out of non-Central Office facilities of the

+Department; and

+``(II) any critical skill incentive provided under paragraph

+(1) to the employee for the portion of the employee's job function

+that is based out of facilities of the Department other than the

+Central Office shall be proportionate to the time spent at those

+Department facilities.

``(C)(i) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of

the Protecting Regular Order for Veterans Act of 2025, and not less

frequently than once each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit

@@ -124,14 +122,12 @@

``(D) In this paragraph, the term `Senior Executive Service

position' has the meaning given such term in section 3132(a) of title

5.''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF VETERANS EXPERIENCE OFFICE.

(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Improving

Veterans' Experience Act of 2025''.

(b) Establishment.--

-(1) In general.--Chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code,

-is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

+(1) In general.--Chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code, is

+amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``Sec. 325. Veterans experience office

``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department within

the Office of the Secretary an office to be known as the `Veterans

@@ -139,45 +135,43 @@

``(b) Head of Office.--(1) The head of the Office shall be the

Chief Veterans Experience Officer.

``(2) The Chief Veterans Experience Officer shall--

-``(A) be appointed by the Secretary from among individuals

-the Secretary considers qualified to perform the duties of the

+``(A) be appointed by the Secretary from among individuals the

+Secretary considers qualified to perform the duties of the

position;

``(B) report directly to the Secretary; and

``(C) be responsible for carrying out the functions of the

Office set forth under subsection (c).

``(c) Function.--The functions of the Office are as follows:

-``(1) Carrying out the key customer experience initiatives

-of the Department relating to veterans' and other

-beneficiaries' satisfaction with and usage of benefits and

-services furnished under laws administered by the Secretary for

-which they are eligible, including setting the strategy,

-framework, policy, and other guidance for the Department

-relating to customer experience, including ensuring the

-activities of the Office and those of other organizations and

-offices within the Department are coordinated and not

-duplicative.

-``(2) Requiring the heads of other organizations and

-offices within the Department to report regularly on customer

-experience metrics, action plans, and other customer experience

-improvement efforts to the Chief Veterans Experience Officer.

+``(1) Carrying out the key customer experience initiatives of

+the Department relating to veterans' and other beneficiaries'

+satisfaction with and usage of benefits and services furnished

+under laws administered by the Secretary for which they are

+eligible, including setting the strategy, framework, policy, and

+other guidance for the Department relating to customer experience,

+including ensuring the activities of the Office and those of other

+organizations and offices within the Department are coordinated and

+not duplicative.

+``(2) Requiring the heads of other organizations and offices

+within the Department to report regularly on customer experience

+metrics, action plans, and other customer experience improvement

+efforts to the Chief Veterans Experience Officer.

``(3) Collecting veteran-derived data--

-``(A) to determine veteran and beneficiary

-satisfaction with and usage of the benefits and

-services furnished under laws administered by the

-Secretary for which they are eligible; and

+``(A) to determine veteran and beneficiary satisfaction

+with and usage of the benefits and services furnished under

+laws administered by the Secretary for which they are eligible;

+and

``(B) to be considered during policymaking.

-``(4) Providing strategic guidance and strategies to

-Department entities for engaging with veterans and

-beneficiaries regarding benefits and services furnished under

-laws administered by the Secretary, including those not using

-such benefits and services.

-``(5) Assessing and advising the Secretary on the accuracy

-and helpfulness of the websites and other customer-facing

-information of the Department, be it available electronically

-or in any other format.

-``(6) Assessing and advising the Secretary on the status

-and opportunities for improvement of the customer service

-efforts of the Department.

+``(4) Providing strategic guidance and strategies to Department

+entities for engaging with veterans and beneficiaries regarding

+benefits and services furnished under laws administered by the

+Secretary, including those not using such benefits and services.

+``(5) Assessing and advising the Secretary on the accuracy and

+helpfulness of the websites and other customer-facing information

+of the Department, be it available electronically or in any other

+format.

+``(6) Assessing and advising the Secretary on the status and

+opportunities for improvement of the customer service efforts of

+the Department.

``(d) Reports.--(1) Each year, the Chief Veterans Experience

Officer shall submit to the Secretary a summary of the data received by

the Chief Veterans Experience Officer under subsection (c)(2).

@@ -187,34 +181,33 @@

summarized pursuant to such paragraph.

``(3) Each annual summary submitted pursuant to paragraph (2) shall

include the following:

-``(A) Data regarding customer service and experience

-feedback, disaggregated by benefit or service furnished under

-laws administered by the Secretary, and relevant demographic

-data of the veterans and beneficiaries providing the feedback.

-``(B) Data regarding veteran and beneficiary satisfaction

-with and usage of benefits or services, disaggregated by

-benefit or service furnished under laws administered by the

-Secretary, and relevant demographic data of the veterans and

-beneficiaries providing the feedback, including--

-``(i) potential reasons for not using the benefits

-or services, such as--

+``(A) Data regarding customer service and experience feedback,

+disaggregated by benefit or service furnished under laws

+administered by the Secretary, and relevant demographic data of the

+veterans and beneficiaries providing the feedback.

+``(B) Data regarding veteran and beneficiary satisfaction with

+and usage of benefits or services, disaggregated by benefit or

+service furnished under laws administered by the Secretary, and

+relevant demographic data of the veterans and beneficiaries

+providing the feedback, including--

+``(i) potential reasons for not using the benefits or

+services, such as--

``(I) eligibility;

-``(II) lack of knowledge or awareness of

-existence of benefit or service;

-``(III) barriers of technology,

-information, or time; and

+``(II) lack of knowledge or awareness of existence of

+benefit or service;

+``(III) barriers of technology, information, or time;

+and

``(IV) other related reasons; and

-``(ii) an analysis of how such reasons may be

-addressed.

+``(ii) an analysis of how such reasons may be addressed.

``(e) Staff and Resources.--(1) The Secretary shall ensure that--

``(A) the Office has such staff, resources, and access to

-customer service and experience information as may be necessary

-to carry out the functions of the Office; and

-``(B) any information provided to the Office does not

-include personally identifiable information of an individual

-veteran, survivor, dependent, or other beneficiary unless such

-individual provides appropriate consent to allow such

-information to be shared with the Office.

+customer service and experience information as may be necessary to

+carry out the functions of the Office; and

+``(B) any information provided to the Office does not include

+personally identifiable information of an individual veteran,

+survivor, dependent, or other beneficiary unless such individual

+provides appropriate consent to allow such information to be shared

+with the Office.

``(2) Funds available for basic pay and other administrative

expenses of other Department organizations and offices may be available

to reimburse the Office for all services provided at rates which will

@@ -231,43 +224,30 @@

the `Privacy Act of 1974').

``(g) Sunset.--The requirements and authorities of this section

shall terminate on September 30, 2028.''.

-(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the

-beginning of chapter 3 of such title is amended by adding at

-the end the following new item:

+(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning

+of chapter 3 of such title is amended by adding at the end the

+following new item:

``325. Veterans Experience Office.''.

Experience Office and Customer Service Improvement Efforts.--Not later

than 540 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the

Comptroller General of the United States shall--

-(1) complete an analysis of the methodology, effectiveness,

-and implementation of findings and feedback of veterans and

-beneficiaries used by the Department of Veterans Affairs,

-including the Veterans Experience Office, to improve veteran

-and beneficiary customer experience and satisfaction, including

-through the use of what are known as ``trust-scores'', Veteran

-Signals also known as ``VSignals'', and related survey and data

-collection activities, processes, and initiatives; and

-(2) submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the

-Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of

+(1) complete an analysis of the methodology, effectiveness, and

+implementation of findings and feedback of veterans and

+beneficiaries used by the Department of Veterans Affairs, including

+the Veterans Experience Office, to improve veteran and beneficiary

+customer experience and satisfaction, including through the use of

+what are known as ``trust-scores'', Veteran Signals also known as

+``VSignals'', and related survey and data collection activities,

+processes, and initiatives; and

+(2) submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate

+and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of

Representatives a report setting forth the findings of the

-Comptroller General with respect to the analysis completed

-pursuant to paragraph (1).

-Passed the Senate April 8, 2025.

-Attest:

-Secretary.

-119th CONGRESS

-1st Session

-S. 423

-_______________________________________________________________________

-AN ACT

-To protect regular order for budgeting for the Department of Veterans

-Affairs, and for other purposes.

+Comptroller General with respect to the analysis completed pursuant

+to paragraph (1).

+Speaker of the House of Representatives.

+Vice President of the United States and

+President of the Senate.

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DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS

VET

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Cosponsors (13)

Members who signed on to support this bill.