Independent Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate in Department of Veterans Affairs

(a)

In general

Section 7309A of title 38, United States Code, is amended—(1)by striking the section heading and inserting the following new section heading:

7309A.

Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate

;

(2)in subsection (a)—(A)by striking within the Office of the Under Secretary for Health; (B)by striking an office and inserting an independent office; and(C)by striking Office of Patient Advocacy and inserting Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate;(3)by striking patient advocate each place it appears and inserting veteran advocate; (4)in subsection (b)—(A)by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following new paragraph (1):

(1)The Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate shall be under the supervision and direction of an official to be known as the “National Veterans’ Advocate”. The National Veterans’ Advocate shall report directly to the Secretary and shall be entitled to compensation at the same rate as the highest rate of basic pay established for the Senior Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5, United States Code.

; and

(B)in paragraph (2)—(i)by striking Office of Patient Advocacy and inserting Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate;(ii)by striking by the Under Secretary for Health and inserting by the Secretary; and(iii)by striking shall report directly to the Under Secretary for Health and inserting shall be independent of the Secretary;(5)by striking Director each place it appears and inserting National Veterans’ Advocate; (6)in subsection (c)—(A)by striking the subsection heading and inserting (c) Functions.—;(B)in paragraph (1)—(i)by striking function and inserting functions;(ii)by striking is and inserting are; and(iii)by inserting before the period at the end the following: and to monitor Department processes and make recommendations to Congress on how to improve the Department’s efficiency and care for veterans;(C)in paragraph (2)—(i)in subparagraph (B), by striking and after the semicolon;(ii)in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and(iii)by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:

(D)identify areas in which veterans have problems in dealings with the Department;(E)to the extent possible, propose changes in the administrative practices of the Department to mitigate problems identified under subparagraph (D); and(F)identify potential legislative changes which may be appropriate to mitigate such problems.

;

(D)in paragraph (3)—(i)in subparagraph (A), by striking and after the semicolon;(ii)by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);(iii)by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph (B):

(B)fill out forms to relating to casework problem that facilitate the rapid assignment of a local veteran advocate caseworker who can directly interface with the veteran if needed; and

; and

(iv)in subparagraph (C), as redesignated by clause (ii), by inserting or forms after complaint both times it appears; (E)by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

(4)The Office shall have the authority to manage casework issues across the Department.(5)(A)Not later than March 30 and September 30 of each year, the National Veterans’ Advocate shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the operations of the Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate. Each such report shall include—(i)a description of the activities of the Office carried out pursuant so subsection (c)(2)(D) through (F); and(ii)independent legislative recommendations for the improvement of health outcomes for veterans, the quality of health care and benefits provided by the Department, and the cost efficiency of the Department.(B)Recommendations included in a report under this paragraph may not be reviewed by the Secretary or by any other official of the Department prior to submission.(C)Each report under this paragraph shall be transmitted to the Secretary and made publicly available on the website the National Veterans’ Advocate.(6)The Office shall have a designated publicly accessible website that includes access to the information technology system required under paragraph (3).

;

(7)in subsection (d)—(A)in the subsection heading, by striking

Patient advocacy

and inserting

Veteran advocacy

; and(B)by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(15)In coordination with the recommendation team, to identify problems experienced within the Department in the course of providing hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care and burial and interment benefits to veterans and to develop recommendations to address such problems.

;

(8)in subsection (e)—(A)by striking shall ensure that such training is consistent throughout the Department. and inserting shall—;(B)by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:

(A)develop the curriculum for such training in coordination with the Under Secretary for Benefits, the Under Secretary for Health, the Director of each of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks, and veterans service organizations;(B)ensure that each veteran advocate is required to receive such training on an annual basis;(C)ensure that such training includes up-to-date information on Department policy, crisis management, health care, and such other matters as the Secretary determines appropriate; and(D)ensure that such training is consistent throughout the Department.

;

(9)by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (l); and(10)by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsections:

(f)

Deputy National Veterans’ Advocates

(1)There is in each Veterans Integrated Service Network (hereinafter referred to as a VISN) a Deputy National Veterans’ Advocate who shall have responsibility for managing the employees of the Office with primary responsibility for casework.(2)The Deputy National Veterans’ Advocate for a VISN shall ensure that for the geographic area served by that VISN, the Department employs at least one veteran advocate for every 12,000 veterans who reside in such area and are enrolled in the patient enrollment system under section 1705 of this title. (g)

Office employees

The Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate shall have employees in the Washington, D.C., office in the Department. Such employees shall carry out the responsibilities under subsection (c)(2)(D) through (F), coordinate with Deputy National Veterans’ Advocates and veteran advocates, and carry out such other responsibilities as the National Veterans’ Advocate determines appropriate.(h)

Casework request portal

The National Veterans’ Advocate shall establish, on the website of the National Veterans’ Advocate, a casework request portal that veterans can use to request assistance with casework.(i)

Outreach

The Secretary shall conduct outreach to veterans receiving benefits under the laws administrated by the Secretary to provide information to such veterans about the Office and the assistance available to veterans through the Office.(j)

Coordination To improve policies

The Secretary, the National Veterans’ Advocate, the Under Secretary for Health, and the Under Secretary for Benefits shall—(1)work closely together on a continual basis to improve the policies of the Department without the necessity for congressional action; and(2)communicate frequently to ensure such improvement.(k)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 7309A and inserting the following new item:

7309A. Office of the National Veterans’ Advocate.