Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act
A Republican bill with 5 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Held at the desk.
Passed one chamber, waiting for the other to take it up
Passed one chamber, and the other has not yet sent it to a committee or put it on its calendar.
The other chamber will hand it to a committee, place it on its calendar, or leave it where it is. Nothing has been decided, and a bill can sit here indefinitely.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- Awaiting House
The Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote): no senator's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
This Act, known as the "Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act," amends title 38 of the United States Code. It requires the Secretary to provide telehealth and mail order pharmacy benefits to certain veterans in the Freely Associated States within one year of enactment. Additionally, it changes the requirement for beneficiary travel payments from discretionary to mandatory. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must also submit quarterly reports to specific congressional committees regarding implementation and costs. Finally, the bill extends certain limits on pension payments through March 31, 2033.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +8
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill expands healthcare access and mandates travel payments for veterans.
- Scored +7
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill expands healthcare access via telehealth/pharmacy and mandates travel reimbursements for veterans.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill mandates the provision of telehealth and mail order pharmacy benefits to veterans in the Freely Associated States.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill mandates new expenditures for telehealth, pharmacy, and travel benefits for veterans.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Telehealth and Mail Order Pharmacy Benefits: Veterans in the Freely Associated States will be furnished with telehealth and mail order pharmacy benefits within one year of the act's enactment (Section 2(a)).
-
Beneficiary Travel: The Secretary is required to make payments for beneficiary travel rather than just having the option to do so (Section 2(b)).
-
Pension Payment Limits: Certain limits on payments of pension are extended until March 31, 2033 (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Implementation Costs: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must report on the cost of implementation, indicating that these new requirements will involve expenditures (Section 2(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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill expands healthcare access and mandates travel payments for veterans. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill extends the timeline for certain pension payment limits. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides essential healthcare and travel assistance to veterans.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill expands healthcare access via telehealth/pharmacy and mandates travel reimbursements for veterans.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill mandates the provision of telehealth and mail order pharmacy benefits to veterans in the Freely Associated States.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit quarterly reports on implementation and costs to Congress.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this strengthen Social Security? — The bill extends the date for certain limits on pension payments to March 31, 2033.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill mandates new expenditures for telehealth, pharmacy, and travel benefits for veterans.
- 12/18/2025
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 12/17/2025
- Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8874; text: CR S8874)
- 12/11/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 9 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John BoozmanRepublican · Arkansas
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska
James RischRepublican · Idaho
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Brian SchatzDemocrat · Hawaii
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi