H.R. 8371
118th Congress
House
Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act
Official title: To make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Armed Forces and National Security
Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAdvisory bodies
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
AgingArea studies and international educationCardiovascular and respiratory healthCemeteries and funeralsCivil actions and liabilityCommunity life and organizationComputers and information technologyCongressional oversightDental careDepartment of Veterans AffairsDisability assistanceDrug, alcohol, tobacco useEducation programs fundingEmergency medical services and trauma careEmployee hiringEmployment and training programsEmployment discrimination and employee rightsExecutive agency funding and structureFamily servicesGovernment buildings, facilities, and propertyGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment lending and loan guaranteesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth care qualityHealth facilities and institutionsHealth information and medical recordsHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingHealth promotion and preventive careHealth technology, devices, suppliesHigher educationHome and outpatient careHomelessness and emergency shelterHousing and community development fundingHousing finance and home ownershipIndian social and development programsIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationIntergovernmental relationsInternet, web applications, social mediaLaw enforcement administration and fundingLegal fees and court costsLong-term, rehabilitative, and terminal careMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMental healthMotor carriersNursingPerformance measurementScience and engineering educationState and local government operationsStudent aid and college costsTransportation costsUser charges and feesVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationVeterans' loans, housing, homeless programsVeterans' medical careVeterans' organizations and recognitionVeterans' pensions and compensationWomen's health
Everywhere this bill has been
10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 19, 2024
Received in the Senate.
Nov 18, 2024
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 389 - 9 (Roll no. 466). (text: CR H6038-6065)
Nov 18, 2024
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8371.
Nov 18, 2024
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6038-6070)
Nov 18, 2024
Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Nov 18, 2024
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Nov 18, 2024
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 18, 2024
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6071)
May 14, 2024
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Armed Services, 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.
May 14, 2024
Introduced in House
Votes taken on this bill
1
| Date | Chamber | What was voted on | Result | Yes–No | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 18, 2024 | House · vote #466 | On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended | Passed | 389–9 | See who voted → |
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Latest action
Received in the Senate.
Plain-English summary
Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act
This bill addresses various programs, benefits, and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including those related to health care, educational assistance, home loans, homelessness, and disability and memorial affairs.
Among other elements, the bill
- modifies the administration of the Veterans Community Care Program, including by providing protections for care agreements between veterans and clinicians;
- increases the expenditure cap for non-institutional care alternatives to nursing home care;
- provides certain support to family caregivers under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers;
- modifies the administration of certain educational assistance programs and benefits, including by removing the expiration on a surviving spouse’s entitlement under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship;
- expands the Native American Direct Loan program by allowing Native American veterans to refinance other existing mortgage loans on the same property if certain conditions are met;
- requires the VA to provide a burial and funeral allowance for certain veterans who die prior to October 1, 2026, in a home or other setting at which the veteran was receiving VA hospice care (if such care was directly preceded by VA hospital or nursing home care);
- temporarily increases the maximum rate of per diem payments provided by the VA to entities that furnish services and transitional housing to homeless veterans;
- authorizes a program to modernize the electronic health record and other relevant health information technology systems of the VA; and
- addresses various oversight and reporting matters.
Related & companion bills
14
Bill text
3 versions
- Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
- Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
- Received in Senate Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Committees of jurisdiction
3
Lobbying activity
13
- ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
- ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
- ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
- ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
- ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
- ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
Bodies those filers lobbied
- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
- SENATE
- Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
- Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
- Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS)
- Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)
- Indian Health Service
Cosponsors
54
R
Malliotakis, Nicole
R
LaHood, Darin
D
Bishop, Sanford D.
R
Newhouse, Dan
R
Turner, Michael R.
D'Esposito, Anthony
Luetkemeyer, Blaine
R
Timmons, William R.
R
Rouzer, David
R
Smith, Christopher H.
R
Van Orden, Derrick
R
McCaul, Michael T.
R
Barr, Andy
R
Gooden, Lance
R
Harshbarger, Diana
R
Wittman, Robert J.
R
Garbarino, Andrew R.
R
Yakym, Rudy
R
Gonzales, Tony
R
Tenney, Claudia
R
Graves, Sam
R
Lawler, Michael
R
Nehls, Troy E.
R
Stefanik, Elise M.
Wenstrup, Brad
R
Calvert, Ken
R
Stauber, Pete
Chavez-DeRemer, Lori
Garcia, Mike
R
Hinson, Ashley
R
Scott, Austin
R
Van Drew, Jefferson
R
Dunn, Neal P.
R
Fischbach, Michelle
R
Valadao, David G.
R
Balderson, Troy
R
Bice, Stephanie I.
Lesko, Debbie
R
Amodei, Mark E.
R
Reschenthaler, Guy
R
Bacon, Don
R
Baird, James R.
R
Bergman, Jack
R
Bost, Mike
R
Carey, Mike
R
Edwards, Chuck
R
Ellzey, Jake
R
Gimenez, Carlos A.
R
Kiggans, Jennifer A.
R
Luttrell, Morgan
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U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 8371: Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-8371/
"H.R. 8371: Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-8371/.
H.R. 8371, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-8371/.
[H.R. 8371: Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-8371/)