Program of Department of Veterans Affairs to furnish to veterans and certain former members of the Armed Forces items used for secure storage of firearms

(a)

In general

Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

1720M.

Program to furnish to veterans and certain former members of the Armed Forces items intended to be used for the secure storage of firearms

(a)

In general

(1)The Secretary shall carry out a program to provide to an eligible individual, upon the request of such eligible individual—(A)a covered item, or a redeemable voucher to aid in the distribution of a covered item; and(B)information with respect to the benefits of, and options for, secure firearm storage.(2)In distributing covered items to eligible individuals pursuant to such program, the Secretary is authorized to work with eligible entities that have expertise and business knowledge with respect to secure firearm storage and secure firearm storage devices.(b)

Annual report

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2025, and on an annual basis thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes, with respect to the period covered by the report—(1)a description of the how the program—(A)functions; and(B)promotes the secure storage of firearms;(2)the number of—(A)covered items distributed pursuant to the program;(B)redeemable vouchers distributed pursuant to the program; and(C)such redeemable vouchers redeemed for a covered item;(3)efforts made to increase the outreach with respect to such program to veterans not enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment established and operated under section 1705 of this title;(4)a description of any obstacles, if any, to increasing such outreach; and(5)a description of additional steps, if any, the Secretary intends to implement during the one-year period beginning on the date of the submission of the report to improve the processes by which eligible individuals receive a covered item pursuant to the program.(c)

Definitions

In this section:(1)The term appropriate congressional committees means—(A)the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate; and(B)the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.(2)The term covered item means a lockbox that—(A)is used for the secure storage of a firearm and ammunition; (B)is designed, intended, and marketed to prevent unauthorized access to a firearm or ammunition;(C)may be unlocked only by means of a key, combination, or other similar means;(D)is in compliance with the applicable standard of American Society for Testing and Materials F2456–20;(E)is manufactured in the United States; and(F)is not eligible or intended for commercial or individual resale. (3)The term eligible individual means—(A)a veteran; and(B)an eligible individual described in subsection (b) of section 1720I of this title.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 1720L the following new item:

1720M. Program to furnish to eligible individuals items intended to be used for the secure storage of firearms.

(c)

Education and training

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—(1)in consultation with representatives of organizations and agencies that are subject to a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary with respect to the prevention of suicide among former members of the Armed Forces (including the reserve components) and other such entities as the Secretary determines appropriate—(A)develop an informational video on secure storage of firearms as a suicide prevention strategy; and(B)publish such informational video on an internet website of the Department; and(2)publish information to inform individuals who participate in the program under section 1720M of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)) that any item intended to be used for the secure storage of a firearm furnished pursuant to such program is not eligible or intended for commercial or individual resale.(d)

Public education campaign

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall design and carry out a public education campaign to educate individuals eligible to participate in the program under section 1720M of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), to inform such individuals—(A)of the availability of items intended to be used for the secure storage of a firearms under such program; and(B)that participation in such program does not affect the rights of an individual with respect to the lawful ownership of a firearm.(2)

Collaboration authorized

In carrying out such campaign, the Secretary may collaborate with organizations that have expertise with respect to secure firearm storage and secure firearm storage devices.(e)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2036 to carry out—(1)this section; and(2)the program under section 1720M of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)).(f)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, may be construed to—(1)collect personally identifiable information of an individual who participates in the program under section 1720M of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)) for the purposes of tracking firearm ownership;(2)require any such individual to register a firearm with the Department of Veterans Affairs, or any other Federal, state, tribal or local unit of Government;(3)require mandatory firearm storage for any such individual;(4)prohibit any such individual from purchasing, owning, or possessing a firearm under section 922 of title 18, United States Code;(5)discourage the lawful ownership of firearms; or(6)create or maintain a list of individuals that participate in such program.