What does Preamble of BRAVE Act of 2025 do?

This bill is formally titled 'To improve mental health services of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.'

What does QUALIFICATIONS OF APPOINTEES IN OCCUPATIONS THAT SUPPORT of BRAVE Act of 2025 do?

This section amends title 38 of the United States Code, specifically sections 7402(b)(8)(C) and 7402(b)(11)(B). For psychologists, the amendment changes the duration of appointment from 'for a period not to exceed' to 'for a reasonable period of time recommended by the Under Secretary for Health.' For Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors, the amendment allows the Secretary to waive licensure or certification requirements for a reasonable period of time recommended by the Under Secretary for Health.

What does REPORT ON COORDINATION OF VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION WITH of BRAVE Act of 2025 do?

This section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs within 60 days of the Act's enactment. The report must assess the coordination between the Veterans Health Administration's clinical care system and the Department of Veterans Affairs' Readjustment Counseling Service. The assessment should evaluate whether Directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks adhere to policies requiring alignment of VA support facilities with Vet Centers. The report must analyze whether Vet Center staff have updated contact information for medical facility staff. It also requires analysis of whether external clinical consultants and suicide prevention coordinators provide monthly professional consultation to Vet Center counseling staff. The report should assess whether these consultations are documented. Finally, the report must determine if the Under Secretary for Health coordinates with Vet Center Outreach Specialists to inform active duty members about Vet Centers.

What does VET CENTER DEFINED. of BRAVE Act of 2025 do?

This section defines the term 'Vet Center' for the purposes of this title. The definition of 'Vet Center' is derived from section 1712A(h) of title 38, United States Code.

What does COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE of BRAVE Act of 2025 do?

This section requires the Comptroller General to submit a report to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs. The report must assess the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Readjustment Counseling Service model for expanding Vet Center real property. The assessment should consider whether the model adequately accounts for demand in rural areas. The report must evaluate the frequency of reassessments for potential Vet Center expansion in response to population shifts. The assessment should consider the needs of veterans in areas with high Veterans Crisis Line call rates or veteran/service member suicide rates. The report must evaluate how the model accounts for mobile Vet Center usage trends. The assessment should consider the unique needs of veterans and service members in areas being assessed.

What does IMPROVEMENT OF GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION TO IMPROVE VETERAN of BRAVE Act of 2025 do?

This section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure each Vet Center has demographic data for eligible individuals to tailor outreach activities. The Secretary must provide Vet Centers with guidance for assessing the effectiveness of outreach activities, including metrics and targets. A process must be developed and implemented to periodically assess barriers veterans and service members face in accessing Vet Center services. The Secretary must also develop and implement a process to periodically assess barriers Vet Center staff may encounter in providing services.

What does REPORT ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM OF READJUSTMENT of BRAVE Act of 2025 do?

This section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs. The report must be submitted within 60 days of the Act's enactment. The report must identify whether the Department of Veterans Affairs is retaining or replacing the RCSNet information technology platform. If RCSNet is retained, the report must include the rationale and steps for maintaining or improving its functionality, along with a timeline. If RCSNet is replaced, the report must include the rationale, implementation steps, timeline, and estimated cost for the replacement.

What does STUDY ON EFFECTIVENESS OF SUICIDE PREVENTION AND MENTAL of BRAVE Act of 2025 do?

This section directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct surveys and listening sessions with women veterans. The purpose of these sessions is to assess the perception, acceptance, and effectiveness of the Department of Veterans Affairs' suicide prevention, lethal-means safety, and mental health resources and messaging campaigns. The study will examine the integration of information related to military sexual trauma, intimate partner violence, and trauma-informed health care into these campaigns. The Secretary must also evaluate potential improvements to programs like the Women's Health Transition Training Program. The study must target women veterans across different ages, eras of service, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and geographical areas, including both urban and rural areas. The Secretary is required to submit a report to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs detailing the findings and planned refinements to the Department's campaigns based on the feedback received.

What does REQUIREMENT FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO MODIFY THE of BRAVE Act of 2025 do?

This section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modify the Recovery Engagement and Coordination for Health-Veterans Enhanced Treatment program (REACH VET). The modification must incorporate risk factors weighted for women veterans. Examples of risk factors to be included are military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence. The Secretary must initiate these efforts within 60 days of the Act's enactment.

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BRAVE Act of 2025

Q: What does REPORT ON MARKET PAY SURVEYS FOR READJUSTMENT COUNSELING of BRAVE Act of 2025 do?

This section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to review market pay surveys for Readjustment Counseling Service positions. The Secretary must compare salaries of employees in the Readjustment Counseling Service to those of similarly situated employees within the Department and the private sector. Within 180 days of the Act's enactment, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs. The report must assess pay disparities and identify any pay-related staffing challenges. The report must include data from all Readjustment Counseling Service Districts, encompassing diverse geographic areas, including rural and urban locations. The assessment of pay must consider third-party survey data, geographic location, equivalent qualifications, and short-term incentives.

Last updated: 2/18/2025 · Introduced: 2/18/2025

Author: Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

TL;DR (AI)

The bill mandates a review of Readjustment Counseling Service employee salaries compared to market rates and similar positions within the Department and private sector, with a resulting report to Congress.
It amends regulations to allow for more flexible appointment durations for psychologists and potentially waive licensure requirements for Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors, based on recommendations from the Under Secretary for Health.
The bill requires an assessment of coordination between the Veterans Health Administration and the Readjustment Counseling Service, including Vet Center outreach and consultation practices.
It directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to modify the REACH VET program to incorporate risk factors specifically weighted for women veterans, such as military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence.
The bill increases funding and extends the authorization period for the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, supporting community-based suicide prevention initiatives.

119th Congressin committeeHR. 6024(In Committee)Official page

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Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, report on market pay surveys for readjustment counseling, and 2 more.

4 sections

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TITLE II

-IMPROVEMENT OF VET CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

4 sections

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TITLE III

-WOMEN VETERANS

3 sections

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TITLE IV

-OTHER MATTERS

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