[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,74,86,98],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":71,"_73":71},"mediaId",6275864,"mediaKeyId","2768476-6cde59e869d49a1381025231adf2e0cb","parentId",2768476,"title","Subcommittee forwards five bills en bloc and advances measure to expand promotion opportunities for marriage and family therapists at VA","audioSeconds",2696,"startMs",1181000,"endMs",3877000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2768476-6cde59e869d49a1381025231adf2e0cb&start=1181&end=3877","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2768476-6cde59e869d49a1381025231adf2e0cb/thumbnail_1181000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6275864/Subcommittee-forwards-five-bills-en-bloc-and-advances-measure-to-expand-promotion-opportunities-for-marriage-and-family-therapists-at-VA","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275864-00fa6c9a0f25130ae0d1c2d751ee9cec/orig.mp4?Expires=1770019482&Signature=O8qDnYcyLPzJYzOAtWJJoDdcQCmk3f5fWIKCeS0eUcBaxpUd6O~sHa5uaHSy2NO~ssr1OHOpITkn1-n60eQQxNjIA2pCc-89STw~J3QiLy0i8kFGq3R4cz6xnmQy8zY9Bg8w5K3SufIGaJvpB2JO~PmMEGETkbCl9dRbCj6YP0xXbNa3sTreJ1GWCfWNYpdCpaqHrVXe3WboYr6g3rvJTUL-ROu63rIlQLEiBLIjix~e7xgctdX1IueUaDYlGVRQo27rpzqTFZtJWHq3LuxrPnmzWQfZz-haTkfI1BqMr6VBgH03p8-kJAETJpfYVWUM60xNkQMZ1XuwXPc~t1z9xQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs","date","2025-03-26T03:00:47.803Z","article","The subcommittee took unanimous consent to consider five bills en bloc: HR 217, HR 1971, HR 1107, HR 1644 and HR 1860. After no amendments were offered, Ranking Member Brownlee moved to report the five bills favorably to the full committee and the chair stated, “In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it and the bills are favorably forwarded to the full committee.”

Members highlighted specific items in the en bloc. Representative Brownlee noted HR 1644, Representative Underwood’s Co-Pay Fairness for Veterans Act, would waive certain VA co-pays for preventive services and immunizations that private plans have covered under the Affordable Care Act. He also described HR 1860, the women’s veterans cancer care coordination bill co-led by Representative Sylvia Garcia, as aiming to improve VA care coordination for breast and gynecologic cancers. The en bloc included HR 1107, the Protecting Veterans’ Access to Telemedicine Services Act, which would exempt VA prescribers from an in-person exam requirement before prescribing controlled substances — a policy change made permanent that was extended during the COVID pandemic.

Separately, the subcommittee considered HR 6 58, which would address promotion inequities for licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) at VA by allowing promotion eligibility for therapists licensed through a broader set of credentials. Representative Brownlee described the current VA standard as limiting and said the bill would expand opportunities for qualified LMFTs to serve veterans. The subcommittee voted to favorably forward HR 6 58 to the full committee.

No recorded tallies were provided in the transcript for the en bloc and HR 6 58 votes; the chair reported the ayes had it for those motions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Subcommittee on Health Markup","oneSentenceSummary","The subcommittee agreed to consider five bills en bloc (HR 217, HR 1971, HR 1107, HR 1644 and HR 1860) and favorably forwarded them to the full committee; it also advanced HR 6 58 to address promotion eligibility for licensed marriage and family therapists at the VA.","taxTitle","Veterans Affairs: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1825,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_32":75,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":76,"_40":77,"_42":78,"_44":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":71,"_73":71},6275869,"Subcommittee reauthorizes Fox grant program through 2026 after debating screening and eligibility rules",2607,1492000,4099000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2768476-6cde59e869d49a1381025231adf2e0cb&start=1492&end=4099","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2768476-6cde59e869d49a1381025231adf2e0cb/thumbnail_1492000.jpg","/articles/6275869/Subcommittee-reauthorizes-Fox-grant-program-through-2026-after-debating-screening-and-eligibility-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275869-9e98da20f4205294a9ffd92339cc3721/orig.mp4?Expires=1770019482&Signature=JaqFtL5S0fD4EpOK5d0SO0sVfrv3DehAyKOUuV21M5IgjXvG8c1PivqDfv8mPejxZo084BqH53pjgDWXdVal5-j-mutCVtArUZFaul9p98o5zzE8MRokwWucStct~97tHJevBHD25M9mZe7gRySSVC8qz-hmSVJq4h72EuoDcGaTIcVebPTsE95yn-j-S84xyMsLAlD6GrpR6qnegm54UkiuEUr0G83n02bwY6eJaN5-XZxVNtReozbc-~gShUs7WqTRU3bwMguK9q3KAeraM1zjdJPp649PJRwLZvyeYy0zdLuclAL87N4FHCvoPeLxQ2p9sdKQwBCtijv1fbxkkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The subcommittee considered HR 19 69, an amendment in the nature of a substitute (ANS) that reauthorizes the Fox grant program through 2026 to continue community mental health partnerships serving veterans.

The chair explained the ANS would renew the program to preserve access to mental health services while lawmakers consider program reforms. The chair said, “we cannot ignore that this program is set to expire in the coming months.” Representative Dexter and other members raised concerns that the ANS imposes new requirements that could introduce problems; in particular, Doctor Dexter objected to language requiring grantees to use the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) for baseline mental-health screening and warned that mandating a single screening tool could hamper the program’s ability to collect meaningful outcome data. Dexter also expressed concern that the ANS expands eligible grantees to include unspecified “healthcare providers,” which he feared could divert funds from VA direct-care services and lack appropriate guardrails.

The chair called the question on agreeing to the ANS; the voice vote was initially recorded as “ayes have it,” but a recorded vote was requested and postponed. Later, the clerk announced the recorded vote on the ANS as 7 ayes and 5 noes; the chair declared the amendment agreed to. Representative Hamadeh moved that HR 19 69 be favorably forwarded to the full committee, and the motion was agreed to.

The subcommittee’s action preserves grant funding for community-based mental health partnerships and adds statutory screening and eligibility language that generated disagreement among members about data collection and program oversight. The ANS reauthorization and related debates will be part of the bill’s record as it moves to full committee consideration.","The subcommittee approved an amendment in the nature of a substitute reauthorizing the Fox grant program through 2026 and favorably forwarded HR 19 69 to the full committee after a recorded vote on the substitute amendment.",{"_32":87,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":88,"_40":89,"_42":90,"_44":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":71,"_73":71},6275873,"Subcommittee advances bill directing GAO review of VA budgeting after last year’s reported shortfalls",295,1809000,2104000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2768476-6cde59e869d49a1381025231adf2e0cb&start=1809&end=2104","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2768476-6cde59e869d49a1381025231adf2e0cb/thumbnail_1809000.jpg","/articles/6275873/Subcommittee-advances-bill-directing-GAO-review-of-VA-budgeting-after-last-years-reported-shortfalls","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275873-cfc449626f360f803eccd17ae439df82/orig.mp4?Expires=1770019482&Signature=JVZNKWIQ~ADSjiEdAM1AKS1vJt0mmQi-bePDs7cxWAbO0bpzJvShVOYyOwncMt37Az6JKQ~xMzA1qkc2wl2WTCPyoXELG9TLTdYSdbojvdmSGt1TOV3FueAU3kY9LpnP6cvVI6TEiZRScZwmZEry0sTSMc9WsFvU7ilqwt18wNpVztnYgnchhFBbBpYOHRvV9pS-Z-fVGKcSVIvwkhifRUfv5kj7GCXyE4E9HTI0oINDhCKvUWGEMVS332X5kZSt13aLEy~nEDimcvziiv3rfKUMR6WUzWjvwGzNok~TNzY~~M06JXrvjhGFhw9PGUceO5hDqup0YcaL54pzzXDzCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Bergman sponsored HR 18 23, the VA Budget Accountability Act, which would require the Comptroller General to conduct a forensic audit of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ budgeting process to determine causes of recent reported shortfalls.

Representative Bergman said Congress must ensure accurate VA budgeting and called the bill “common sense” to prevent future mismanagement. Ranking Member Brownlee said he supports the intent and will vote to advance the bill but urged majority staff to coordinate with ongoing reviews by GAO and the VA Office of Inspector General so the new requirement does not duplicate existing work; Brownlee noted OIG reports were due shortly that were already mandated by prior legislation.

Brownlee also raised a procedural concern described in VA testimony: HR 18 23 would require GAO to submit its completed report to VA and then require VA to forward GAO’s report to Congress; Brownlee said it would be more logical for GAO to submit directly to the congressional committees. Representative King Hines moved to favorably forward HR 18 23 to the full committee, and the motion was agreed to by the chair.

Members asked majority staff to work with minority staff to narrow the bill’s scope where it overlaps ongoing GAO and OIG work before full committee consideration.","The subcommittee voted to forward HR 18 23, which would require the Comptroller General to audit Department of Veterans Affairs budgeting practices following reported funding shortfalls; members urged coordination with existing GAO and OIG reviews.",{"_32":99,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":100,"_40":101,"_42":102,"_44":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":71,"_73":71},6275879,"House subcommittee advances pilot to expand hyperbaric oxygen therapy access for veterans after amendments",2163,2115000,4278000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2768476-6cde59e869d49a1381025231adf2e0cb&start=2115&end=4278","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2768476-6cde59e869d49a1381025231adf2e0cb/thumbnail_2115000.jpg","/articles/6275879/House-subcommittee-advances-pilot-to-expand-hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-access-for-veterans-after-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275879-9ff9675cfa249182535bf593a55ca456/orig.mp4?Expires=1770019482&Signature=UEIRBg2yehpZMxrLx4EMj8hFanlzrJvOGcfwVxFwLy05Rfm1Scf4MacT0QUOUOcxuMn8WRrWzt7wpVEOsv~q8VVqwxhS5kXLuvDc52CI~cpoF7QJPL9oK7nbDxPgYM1of0LkukS1gqk1-RCb4a3dlrzzmnpzY850-g0g-u~njVaE7FPihtv3WtWMmpctIfe2HZgdmmvAPwjOlpvahrGZkx4foWfcZjL6-YaTRw6IxbJ7DQwBuJHuRoWhL~-SD7-~u9fqoS7kcz~CheDrJAa6opU8aN2NlFJ81WPdl0e9QCHrg6hWacmGsLjS6IBx7RkrfYeW~bkBGOnxVVlccczt7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Murphy introduced HR 13 36, the Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Act, and the subcommittee moved the bill to the full committee as amended.

The bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program granting veterans access to hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the community. Representative Murphy described HBOT as a potential option for veterans with TBI and PTSD and said, “we do this today, 17 to 30 veterans every day to suicide.”

The panel debated scientific support and safeguards. Representative Morrison offered an amendment requiring the VA to conduct a full literature review on HBOT’s clinical effectiveness before proceeding; that amendment was rejected in a recorded vote (5 ayes, 7 noes). Representative Phyllis McCormick’s amendment, which directs the Government Accountability Office to update its 2015 report on HBOT for PTSD and TBI within one year of enactment, was agreed to. Ranking Member Brownlee’s amendment requiring HBOT providers participating in VA programs to be accredited by the Joint Commission, the Undersea Hyperbaric Medical Society, or another relevant accrediting body also passed and was described in the hearing as a safety safeguard following a recent fatality at a non-VA hyperbaric facility.

Members voiced sharply different views on the underlying evidence. Representative Murphy and several supporters said clinical studies and meta-analyses show benefit and urged action, while physicians on the panel cautioned that randomized controlled-trial evidence is limited and warned against diverting resources from established, evidence-based VA care.

After the amendments were adopted, Representative Van Orden moved to forward HR 13 36 as amended to the full committee; the motion was agreed to and the subcommittee favorably forwarded the bill.

The record shows the subcommittee debated both clinical evidence and patient-safety requirements, adopted oversight and accreditation provisions, and voted to advance the bill to the full committee for further consideration.","The House Veterans' Affairs subcommittee voted to forward HR 13 36, which would create a pilot to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), after approving two safety and study amendments and rejecting a separate literature-review amendment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Subcommittee forwards five bills en bloc and advances measure to expand promotion opportunities for marriage and family therapists at VA

Subcommittee reauthorizes Fox grant program through 2026 after debating screening and eligibility rules

Subcommittee advances bill directing GAO review of VA budgeting after last year’s reported shortfalls

House subcommittee advances pilot to expand hyperbaric oxygen therapy access for veterans after amendments