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S 787 · 119th Congress · Armed Forces and National Security

VetPAC Act of 2025

Introduced February 27, 2025 Latest action December 19, 2025 2 cosponsors

Sponsor

Latest action

Held at the desk.

Action timeline

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

Dec 19, 2025
floor Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 19, 2025
floor Received in the House.
Dec 19, 2025
floor Held at the desk.
Dec 18, 2025
floor Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8895-8898)
Dec 18, 2025
passed The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.

Text versions

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

Dec 18, 2025 Engrossed in Senate
XML
Dec 02, 2025 Reported to Senate
XML
Feb 27, 2025 Introduced in Senate
XML

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.

via Congressional Research Service · published through congress.gov

Changelog
ⓘ

How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.

  1. ih / is — Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.
  2. rfh / rfs — Referred to a committee for review.
  3. rh / rs — Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).
  4. pcs / pch — Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.
  5. eh / es — Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.
  6. rdh / rds — Received by the other chamber.
  7. eah / eas — Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.
  8. ath / ats — Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.
  9. enr — Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.
  10. pl — Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.
  11. 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.

→
+16 −356 39 unchanged
--- Reported (Senate)
+++ Engrossed (Senate)
@@ -1,354 +1,22 @@
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
-[S. 787 Reported in Senate (RS)]
+[S. 787 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
<DOC>
-Calendar No. 279
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 787
-[Report No. 119-98]
+_______________________________________________________________________
+
+AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a commission to
review operations at the Veterans Health Administration and submit to
Congress reports with respect to that review, and for other purposes.
-_______________________________________________________________________
-
-IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
-
-February 27, 2025
-
-Mr. Cassidy (for himself, Ms. Hirono, and Mr. Moran) introduced the
-following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
-Veterans' Affairs
-
-December 2, 2025
-
-Reported by Mr. Moran, with an amendment
-[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
-in italic]
-
-_______________________________________________________________________
-
-A BILL
-
-To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a commission to
-review operations at the Veterans Health Administration and submit to
-Congress reports with respect to that review, and for other purposes.
-
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
-
-<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
-
-<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``VetPAC Act of
-2025''.</DELETED>
-
-<DELETED>SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION POLICY
-ADVISORY COMMISSION.</DELETED>
-
-<DELETED> (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 73 of title 38,
-United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
-section:</DELETED>
-<DELETED>``Sec. 7310B. Veterans Health Administration Policy Advisory
-Commission</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(a) Establishment.--There is established the Veterans
-Health Administration Policy Advisory Commission (in this section
-referred to as the `Commission').</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(b) Membership.--</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(1) Composition.--The Commission shall be
-composed of 17 members appointed by the Comptroller General of
-the United States, of which not fewer than 2 shall be
-veterans.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(2) Qualifications.--</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(A) In general.--An individual is
-eligible for appointment to the Commission under
-paragraph (1) if the individual has significant
-expertise in operating or advising large medical
-systems, including expertise in quality of care,
-staffing issues, information technology, artificial
-intelligence in health care, medical supply chains,
-procurement of medical supplies, medical facility
-construction or leasing, medical facility architecture
-or engineering, medical research, and managed care
-plans and networks.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(B) Experience of members.--In
-appointing members under paragraph (1), the Comptroller
-General shall select individuals from backgrounds that
-reflect the broad diversity of health care received by
-veterans, including nonprofit health systems, public
-and private health systems, care furnished by the
-Veterans Health Administration, and care furnished by
-the Department of Defense.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(3) Ethical disclosure.--A member of the
-Commission shall be considered an employee of Congress whose
-compensation is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate for
-purposes of applying subchapter I of chapter 131 of title 5,
-United States Code, except that a member of the Commission is
-required to file public financial disclosure reports without
-regard to their number of days of service or rate of
-pay.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(c) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(1) Terms.--A member of the Commission shall be
-appointed under subsection (b)(1) for a term of 5 years, except
-that the Comptroller General shall designate staggered terms
-for the members first appointed.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(2) Vacancies.--</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(A) In general.--A vacancy on the
-Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the
-original appointment was made and shall be subject to
-any conditions that applied with respect to the
-original appointment.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(B) Filling unexpired term.--An
-individual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed
-for the unexpired term of the member
-replaced.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(3) Expiration of terms.--The term of any member
-shall not expire before the date on which the member's
-successor takes office.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(d) Meetings.--</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(1) Frequency.--The Commission shall meet at the
-call of the Chairman, but not less frequently than once per
-year.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(2) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the
-Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of
-members may hold meetings.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(e) Chairman and Vice Chairman.--The Comptroller General
-shall designate one member of the Commission as Chairman and one member
-of the Commission as Vice Chairman, at the time of appointment of such
-member and for the term of appointment of such member, except that in
-the case of vacancy of the Chairmanship or Vice Chairmanship, the
-Comptroller General may designate another member for the remainder of
-that member's term.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(f) Duties of the Commission.--</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(1) Review.--The Commission shall--</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(A) review operations at the Veterans
-Health Administration; and</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(B) prepare reports for Congress based
-on such review, including recommendations to
-Congress.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(2) Topics to be reviewed.--In conducting a
-review under paragraph (1)(A), the Commission shall include
-periodic reviews of the following, taking into consideration
-other independent assessments in selecting topics to limit
-duplicative efforts:</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(A) Information technology
-infrastructure at medical facilities of the Department,
-including with respect to electronic health record
-systems.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(B) Referrals to care at facilities of
-the Department and under the Veterans Community Care
-Program under section 1703 of this title, and factors
-impacting those referrals.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(C) Access and wait times at medical
-facilities of the Department and under the Veterans
-Community Care Program, including both primary and
-specialty care, and factors impacting those wait
-times.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(D) The quality of health care furnished
-by the Department and through the Veterans Community
-Care Program.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(E) Workforce issues, including
-workforce performance, recruitment, and retention
-factors.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(F) Patient satisfaction and customer
-service at medical facilities of the Department and
-through the Veterans Community Care Program.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(G) The training of health care
-providers and the standards of care at facilities of
-the Department and in the Veterans Community Care
-Program.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(H) The long-term budgetary outlook of
-the Veterans Health Administration, as well as key
-components driving budgetary changes over
-time.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(I) Procurement of supplies at medical
-facilities of the Department.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(J) The research program of the
-Department, including both internal and external
-research.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(K) Hospital construction, leasing, and
-capital requirements.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(L) The interaction of care under the
-Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social
-Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.), the Medicaid
-program under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et
-seq.), the TRICARE program under chapter 55 of title
-10, and commercial health care plans with care
-furnished by the Veterans Health
-Administration.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(3) Issues regarding veteran health care
-delivery generally.--In carrying out the requirements of this
-subsection, the Commission shall review the effect of policies
-under this title on the delivery of health care services to
-veterans and assess the implications of changes in health care
-delivery for veterans in the United States.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(4) Transmittal of certain reports.--If the
-Secretary or the Inspector General of the Department of
-Veterans Affairs submits to Congress (or a committee of
-Congress) a report that is required by law and that relates to
-policies for health care furnished under the laws administered
-by the Secretary, the Secretary shall transmit a copy of that
-report to the Commission.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(5) Consultation and additional reviews and
-studies.--</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(A) Consultation.--In carrying out the
-requirements of this subsection, the Commission shall
-consult periodically with the chairmen and ranking
-members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
-Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
-House of Representatives regarding the agenda of the
-Commission and progress towards achieving that
-agenda.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(B) Additional reviews and reports.--The
-Commission may conduct additional reviews, and may
-submit additional reports to the Committee on Veterans'
-Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans'
-Affairs of the House of Representatives, from time to
-time on such topics relating to the activities of the
-Commission as may be requested by the Chairman and
-members and as the Commission determines
-appropriate.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(C) Special studies.--The Commission may
-conduct special studies requested by the chairman or
-ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of
-the Senate or the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
-House of Representatives and as the Commission
-determines appropriate.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(6) Budgetary considerations.--Before making any
-recommendations to Congress, the Commission shall examine the
-budget consequences of such recommendations, directly or
-through consultation with appropriate expert
-entities.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(7) Report.--</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(A) In general.--By not later than March
-15 of each year, the Commission shall submit to
-Congress a report containing the results and
-recommendations from the review conducted under
-paragraph (1).</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(B) Inclusion of recommendations.--A
-recommendation may be included in a report under
-subparagraph (A) if a simple majority of the members of
-the Commission vote to include the recommendation in
-the report.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(g) Powers of Commission.--</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(1) In general.--The Commission may--</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(A) employ and fix the compensation of
-an Executive Director (at a rate of pay not greater
-than that provided for level III of the Executive
-Schedule under section 5314 of title 5) and such other
-personnel as may be necessary to carry out the duties
-of the Commission, without regard to the provisions of
-title 5 governing appointments in the competitive
-service;</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(B) seek such assistance and support as
-may be required in the performance of its duties from
-appropriate departments and agencies of the United
-States or departments or agencies of a State;</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(C) enter into contracts or make other
-arrangements, as may be necessary for the conduct of
-the work of the Commission (without regard to section
-3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C.
-6101));</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(D) make advance, progress, and other
-payments that relate to the work of the
-Commission;</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(E) provide transportation and
-subsistence for individuals serving the Commission
-without compensation; and</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(F) prescribe such rules and regulations
-as the Commission determines necessary with respect to
-the internal organization and operation of the
-Commission.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(2) Data collection.--In order to carry out its
-functions, the Commission shall--</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(A) utilize existing information, both
-published and unpublished, if possible, collected and
-assessed either by its own staff or under other
-arrangements made in accordance with this
-section;</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(B) carry out, or award grants or
-contracts for, original research and experimentation,
-if existing information is inadequate; and</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(C) adopt procedures allowing any
-interested party to submit information for use by the
-Commission in making reports and
-recommendations.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(3) Information from federal agencies.--
-</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(A) In general.--The Commission may
-secure directly from any relevant department or agency
-of the United States health care information the
-Chairman determines would be helpful to enable the
-Commission to carry out this section.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(B) Timing.--Upon request of the
-Chairman, the head of a department or agency of the
-United States shall furnish information requested under
-subparagraph (A) to the Commission on an agreed upon
-schedule or not later than 180 days after the date of
-the request.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(h) Compensation.--</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(1) Members.--</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(A) In general.--While conducting the
-business of the Commission (including travel time), a
-member of the Commission shall be entitled to
-compensation at the per diem equivalent of the rate
-provided for level IV of the Executive Schedule under
-section 5315 of title 5.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(B) Travel expenses.--While conducting
-the business of the Commission away from home and the
-regular place of business of the member, a member may
-be allowed travel expenses, as authorized by the
-Chairman.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(2) Physician comparability allowance for
-personnel.--The Commission may provide a physician
-comparability allowance to physicians serving as personnel of
-the Commission in the same manner as physicians of the Federal
-Government may be provided such an allowance by an agency under
-section 5948 of title 5, and for such purpose, subsection (i)
-of such section shall apply to the Commission in the same
-manner as it applies to the Tennessee Valley
-Authority.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(3) Treatment of personnel.--For purposes of pay
-(other than pay of members of the Commission) and employment
-benefits, rights, and privileges, all personnel of the
-Commission shall be treated as if they were employees of the
-United States Senate.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(i) Detail of Federal Employees.--An employee of the
-Federal Government may be detailed to the Commission without
-reimbursement and without interruption or loss of civil service status
-or privileges.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(j) Access of Congressional Support Agencies to
-Information.--The Commission shall provide to the Comptroller General,
-the Congressional Research Service, and the Congressional Budget Office
-unrestricted access to all deliberations, records, and nonproprietary
-data of the Commission not later than 30 days after such access is
-requested.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(1) Request for appropriations.--The Commission
-shall submit requests for appropriations in the same manner as
-the Comptroller General submits requests for appropriations,
-but amounts appropriated for the Commission shall be separate
-from amounts appropriated for the Comptroller
-General.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> ``(2) Authorization.--There are authorized to be
-appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this
-section.''.</DELETED>
-<DELETED> (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
-beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item
-relating to section 7310A the following new item:</DELETED>
-
-<DELETED>``7310B. Veterans Health Administration Policy Advisory
-Commission.''.
-<DELETED> (c) Initial Appointment.--Not later than 280 days after
-the date on which amounts are first appropriated to the Veterans Health
-Administration Policy Advisory Commission established under section
-7310B of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), the
-Comptroller General of the United States shall make initial
-appointments of members to the Commission under subsection (b)(1) of
-such section.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
@@ -617,15 +285,11 @@
Research Service, and the Congressional Budget Office unrestricted
access to all deliberations, records, and nonproprietary data of the
Commission not later than 30 days after such access is requested.
-``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--
-``(1) Request for appropriations.--The Commission shall
-submit requests for appropriations in the same manner as the
-Comptroller General submits requests for appropriations, but
-amounts appropriated for the Commission shall be separate from
-amounts appropriated for the Comptroller General.
-``(2) Authorization.--There are authorized to be
-appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this
-section.''.
+``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--The Commission shall submit
+requests for appropriations in the same manner as the Comptroller
+General submits requests for appropriations, but amounts appropriated
+for the Commission shall be separate from amounts appropriated for the
+Comptroller General.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
119 the following new item:
@@ -638,26 +302,22 @@
Comptroller General of the United States shall make initial
appointments of members to the Commission under subsection (b)(1) of
such section.
-Calendar No. 279
-
+
+Passed the Senate December 18, 2025.
+
+Attest:
+
+Secretary.
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 787
-[Report No. 119-98]
-
_______________________________________________________________________
-A BILL
+AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a commission to
review operations at the Veterans Health Administration and submit to
Congress reports with respect to that review, and for other purposes.
-
-_______________________________________________________________________
-
-December 2, 2025
-
-Reported with an amendment

Lobbying activity

Organizations whose LDA filings reference this bill, ranked by filing count. Position not disclosed — LDA does not require lobbyists to report support / oppose / monitor. Bill-number references can be stale (lobbyists sometimes copy text year-over-year), so verify against the filing description.

PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA
VET
5
filings · 2026 Q3
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION SERVICES INC.(FKA AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSN
VET
3
filings · 2026 Q3

via Senate LDA · self-reported quarterly. Filing count = filings mentioning this bill (no position required), not money spent on it. Click a client to see all bills they've filed on.

Cosponsors (2)

Members who signed on to support this bill.

Hirono D
Moran R