A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The VETRA Act directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program to modernize digital identity and authentication systems. This program aims to replace old, single-factor verification methods with more secure, multi-layered digital solutions. The Secretary will test these systems on up to three high-volume digital service platforms, such as disability compensation or health care enrollment. The program will use risk-tiered implementation to match authentication requirements with the sensitivity of the transaction. The Secretary is authorized to spend up to $25,000,000 on this initiative. An independent evaluation by the GAO will also be conducted to review the program's effectiveness.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +5
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
The bill mandates high-assurance digital identity standards and compliance with federal privacy laws.
- Scored +4
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill modernizes the security and digital access of essential veteran benefit platforms.
- Scored +3
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill aims to reduce costs through fraud reduction and administrative efficiencies in VA digital service platforms.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities?
The new digital identity requirements may create new barriers to access for veterans with disabilities.
- Scored -2
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill identifies potential barriers to access for veterans residing in rural areas due to new digital identity requirements.
- Scored -1
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
New digital requirements may create barriers for those with limited digital literacy or resources.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Security and Access: The bill seeks to replace legacy identity verification with high-assurance digital solutions to improve secure access to digital service platforms for veterans and eligible individuals (Section 2(a)(1) and 2(a)(3)).
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Fraud Reduction: The pilot program is designed to reduce fraud and improper payments (Section 2(a)(2)).
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Efficient Authentication: By using risk-tiered implementation, the Secretary will ensure that more rigorous authentication requirements are only applied when warranted by risk (Section 2(c)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Barriers to Access: There is a potential for the new systems to create barriers to access for specific groups, including veterans residing in rural areas, those with disabilities, or those with limited digital literacy (Section 2(g)(1)(C)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill mandates high-assurance digital identity standards and compliance with federal privacy laws.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill modernizes the security and digital access of essential veteran benefit platforms.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill aims to reduce costs through fraud reduction and administrative efficiencies in VA digital service platforms.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill includes required reporting on implementation and performance metrics for the pilot program.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill modernizes digital access to veteran health care enrollment portals through more secure authentication.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The new digital identity requirements may create new barriers to access for veterans with disabilities.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill enhances the security and modernization of digital service platforms used by veterans. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill identifies potential barriers to access for veterans residing in rural areas due to new digital identity requirements. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — New digital requirements may create barriers for those with limited digital literacy or resources.
- 9/1/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/30/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/12/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
- 6/4/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Introduced in House
Russell FryRepublican · South Carolina
Josh GottheimerDemocrat · New Jersey
Thomas KeanRepublican · New Jersey