H.R. 980

119 HR 980 EH: Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act of 2025
 U.S. House of Representatives
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 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I
 119th CONGRESS   2d Session
 H. R. 980
 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the provision of on-campus educational and vocational counseling by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act of 2025  .
2.
Elimination of requirement that on-campus educational and vocational counseling is provided by certain Department of Veterans Affairs employees
Section 3697B(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking the second sentence.
3.
Authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to approve non-degree flight training courses as part of vocational rehabilitation programs for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities
(a)
In general
Section 3104(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
by inserting  (1)  before  A rehabilitation program ;
(2)
by striking  To the maximum extent practicable  and inserting  Except as provided under paragraph (2), to the maximum extent practicable ; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(2)
Notwithstanding section 3680A(b) of this title, the Secretary may approve a rehabilitation program for a veteran under this chapter that includes the pursuit of a course of flight training other than one given by an educational institution of higher learning for credit toward a standard college degree the veteran is seeking.
 .
(b)
Applicability
The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a rehabilitation program approved on or after August 1, 2026.
4.
Department of Veterans Affairs training and rehabilitation programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities: outreach requirement; extensions
(a)
VRE contact information
Section 3104 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(f)
The Secretary shall establish a dedicated telephone number within the Education Call Center of the Department for calls about services provided under this chapter. Each regional office of the Department shall include, on the website of the regional office, a name, telephone number, and email address, through which veterans may receive information about services provided under this chapter.
 .
(b)
Requests for extensions of programs: timely consideration; report
(1)
In general
Section 3105 of title 38, United States Code, is amended, in subsection (c)—
(A)
by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
(B)
by inserting
(1)    before  The Secretary ; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(2)
The Secretary shall approve or deny a request for an extension under paragraph (1) not later than 30 days after the date on which the veteran submits such request.
  .
(2)
Report
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for five years, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives an annual report on requests for extensions under such subsection (c). Each such report shall include, for the year preceding the date of the report—
(A)
the number of veterans who requested such an extension;
(B)
the number of such requests that were approved; and
(C)
the number of such requests that were denied.
5.
Extension of certain limits on payments of pension
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking  January 31, 2033  and inserting  July 31, 2033 .
     Passed the House of Representatives February 2, 2026.  Kevin F. McCumber,  Clerk.