Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Disabled Veterans Dignity Act of 2026
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
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 Disabled Veterans Dignity Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create a program specifically for veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders. This program focuses on addressing essential bowel and bladder care needs for veterans living in non-institutional settings. Care can be provided by family members, individually employed caregivers, or home health agencies. The Secretary must conduct individualized assessments to determine the required number of care hours based on clinical need. The program also includes a monthly stipend for family and individual caregivers, alongside payments for home health agencies. Additionally, the Act establishes rules for continued participation and ensures care is coordinated with other existing benefits.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +9
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill establishes a vital care program for veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders to support living in their communities.
- Scored +9
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill creates a dedicated care program and financial stipends specifically for veterans with spinal cord injuries.
- Scored +8
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The bill addresses essential medical needs for individuals with spinal cord injuries to improve their quality of life.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Health and Quality of Life: The bill notes that providing care helps support veterans in non-institutional settings, improves quality of life, and optimizes health by preventing complications like autonomic dysreflexia (Section 2(a)).
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Financial Support for Caregivers: The Secretary is required to provide a monthly stipend to family members and individually employed caregivers, as well as payments to contracted home health agencies (Section 3(e)(1)).
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Medical Training for Caregivers: Family members or individually employed caregivers will receive necessary supportive medical training to help them participate in and receive payment for providing care (Section 3(d)(1)).
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Long-term Care Security: For veterans who require care for three years or more, they are deemed to require that care for life, unless a medical provider determines it is no longer needed (Section 3(g)).
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Protection Against Unfair Tax/Status Treatment: The bill establishes that family and individually employed caregivers should not be subjected to self-employment taxes or treated as vendors or contractors (Section 2(a) and Section 3(h)).
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Safeguards Against Care Denial: Before any denial of care occurs, the Secretary must obtain review and concurrence from a designated Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders Center (Section 3(b)(4)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Care Limitations Based on Ability: Care may not be provided to any veteran who is able to perform their own bowel and bladder functions without assistance (Section 3(i)).
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Administrative Burdens on Caregivers: Family members and individually employed caregivers must provide documentation and information in a format and under terms required by the Secretary to receive payment (Section 3(f)).
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Pay Caps for Caregivers: The monthly stipend for family members and individually employed caregivers is capped at the fifth step of the General Schedule hourly rate paid to certain nursing assistants (Section 3(e)(2)(A)).
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 establishes a vital care program for veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders to support living in their communities. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill addresses essential medical needs for individuals with spinal cord injuries to improve their quality of life. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides direct financial stipends to caregivers, which can assist household finances.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill provides specialized support and care for veterans living with spinal cord injuries and disorders. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill provides monthly stipends to family members and individual caregivers providing essential care.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill creates a dedicated care program and financial stipends specifically for veterans with spinal cord injuries.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill establishes a new program to provide essential bowel and bladder care for veterans with spinal cord injuries in non-institutional settings.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this cut taxes for middle-income families? — The bill prevents family caregivers from being subjected to self-employment taxes.
- 4/29/2026
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
- 1/15/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 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.