,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fjag ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,november #aj1 #bjbe,mr4 ,van ,drew 7for himself and ,mrs4 ,cherfilus-,mc,cormick7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to direct the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to issue to a veteran a ,veterans ,bill of ,rights1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,veterans ,bill of ,rights ,act4 #b4 ,veterans ,bill of ,rights 7a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,ii of chapter #fc of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new section 7and the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended accordingly73 #fcba4 ,veterans ,bill of ,rights 7a7 ,provision2 publication 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall provide to each veteran a physical copy and an electronic copy of the ,veterans ,bill of ,rights described in subsection 7c74 7#b7 ,the ,secretary shall publish and maintain1 on a publicly accessible website of the ,department1 an electronic copy of such ,veterans ,bill of ,rights4 7#c7 ,the ,secretary shall keep a copy of the most recent version of such ,veterans ,bill of ,rights in each facility of the ,department4 7b7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section shall be construed to create any right or benefit1 substantive or procedural1 enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the ,united ,states1 the ,department1 or any officer or employee thereof4 7c7 ,veterans ,bill of ,rights described ,the ,veterans ,bill of ,rights described in this subsection shall inform a veteran of rights and benefits to which the veteran may be entitled under laws administered by the ,secretary4 ,such rights and benefits include the following3 7#a7 ,veterans have the right to fair treatment4 ,veterans shall be treated equally and with respect1 regardless of rank1 position1 or any protected class1 in every interaction with the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs 7,,va7 and affiliated service providers4 7#b7 ,veterans have the right to be informed of all eligible programs and benefits upon discharge1 including healthcare options with non-,,va providers4 7,a7 ,upon discharge1 the ,,va shall provide each veteran with a comprehensive handbook detailing all eligible benefits and programs1 including access to ,community ,care when ,,va healthcare is not available within reasonable timeframes or distances4 7,b7 ,this information shall be accessible in print and online1 updated annually1 and cover healthcare1 disability1 education1 and housing benefits4 7#c7 ,veterans have the right to privacy4 7,a7 ,veterans' personal information and records shall be strictly protected4 7,b7 ,the ,,va must adhere to the highest standards of data privacy and clearly inform veterans about how their data is used1 shared1 and protected4 7,c7 ,veterans shall have assurance that all their interactions and records with the ,,va are handled confidentially and securely4 7#d7 ,veterans have the right to access quality healthcare4 7,a7 ,veterans shall have timely access to high-quality healthcare through ,,va facilities or ,community ,care providers when necessary4 7,b7 ,this includes access to physical and mental health services tailored to veterans' unique needs1 ensuring they receive the best possible care regardless of location or circumstance4 7#e7 ,veterans have the right to mental health and family support services4 7,a7 ,in recognition of the unique psychological impacts of military service1 veterans shall have access to tailored mental health resources1 including therapy1 counseling1 and group support1 both in-person and via telehealth4 7,b7 ,additionally1 support services for veterans' families shall be available to foster stability and wellness within the family unit1 especially for those experiencing post-service challenges4 7#f7 ,veterans have the right to employment and housing assistance4 7,a7 ,veterans transitioning to civilian life shall have access to robust employment services1 including job training1 career counseling1 and resume workshops4 7,b7 ,the ,,va shall also provide resources for housing stability1 such as assistance in securing affordable housing and support for homelessness prevention for veterans in need4 7#g7 ,veterans have the right to accessibility in services and facilities4 7,a7 ,veterans shall access ,,va services without physical1 geographical1 or logistical barriers1 with reasonable accommodations provided for disabilities4 7,b7 ,the ,,va shall also expand telehealth options and partnerships with local providers1 particularly to serve veterans in remote or underserved areas1 ensuring equitable service access4 7#h7 ,veterans have the right to involvement in decisions affecting their care and benefits4 7,a7 ,veterans shall be included in decisions about their care plans1 treatment options1 and benefits4 7,b7 ,the ,,va shall involve veterans in discussions about their treatment and benefits eligibility1 ensuring that veterans' preferences and needs are considered and respected in every decision4 7#i7 ,veterans have the right to transparency in benefits adjudication4 7,a7 ,veterans shall be provided with a transparent process for adjudicating claims1 including clear information on application requirements1 expected timelines1 and necessary documentation4 7,b7 ,the ,,va shall issue written decisions on claims within a specified timeframe1 including explanations for any denials and information on appeal options4 7#aj7 ,veterans have the right to a fair and timely appeals process4 7,a7 ,veterans may appeal denied claims through a fair and efficient process1 receiving guidance from the ,,va on each step4 7,b7 ,the ,,va shall aim1 to the extent practicable1 to resolve appeals within #abj days of filing1 with progress updates provided throughout the process to ensure veterans are informed of the status of their cases4 7#aa7 ,veterans have the right to consistent and proactive communication4 7,a7 ,the ,,va shall proactively communicate with veterans regarding any updates or changes to their benefits and eligibility4 7,b7 ,veterans should receive timely information about new or modified services they qualify for1 ensuring they have a clear understanding of all available resources throughout their lives4 7d7 ,hotline and portal 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall maintain a toll-free hotline and a publicly accessible website of the ,department through which a veteran may report a complaint regarding compliance by the ,secretary with this section4 7#b7 ,the ,secretary shall respond to a veteran not later than #cj days after the ,secretary receives such a complaint4 7e7 ,reporting ,not less than once each year1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and the ,house of ,representatives a report regarding compliance of the ,secretary with this section4 ,each such report shall include the following elements with regards to the year preceding the date of such report3 7#a7 ,the total number of complaints pursuant to subsection 7c71 disaggregated by-- 7,a7 category of issue 7such as access to care1 claims processing1 appeals1 communication1 privacy1 or other72 and 7,b7 facility of the ,department2 7#b7 ,the median and average response times for complaints4 7#c7 ,the percentage of complaints resolved within #cj days4 7#d7 ,the number of corrective actions taken or policy changes made by the ,secretary as a result of complaints or identified noncompliance4 7#e7 ,data on average and median processing times for benefit claims and appeals1 compared to the target timelines under subsection 7c74 7#f7 ,the number of veterans provided information or referrals for community care4 7#g7 ,recommendations of the ,secretary for legislative or administrative action to further the purposes of this section4 4 7b7 ,implementation ,the ,secretary shall carry out section #fcba of such title1 as added by this section1 not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this ,act4