Bill Summary
The "National Veterans Strategy Act of 2026" is a legislative initiative aimed at enhancing the success and well-being of veterans in the United States. The Act requires the President to define "veteran success" and to develop a comprehensive National Veterans Strategy, which will establish metrics to assess veterans' well-being across various domains, including health, economic security, education, and civic engagement.
To create this strategy, the President is mandated to collaborate with key stakeholders, including Congress, federal agencies, state governments, veterans service organizations, and the private sector, ensuring that diverse veteran needs are addressed through public input and feedback mechanisms. The strategy must be submitted to Congress at least every four years and can be subject to disapproval by Congress through a joint resolution.
The legislation emphasizes the importance of coordinating resources and services from multiple sectors to effectively support veterans who may not meet the established success metrics. It also requires annual progress reports from the President, along with quadrennial reviews to assess the strategy's effectiveness and recommend necessary updates. Overall, the Act aims to foster a structured and collaborative approach to improve the lives of veterans and reinforce their contributions to society and national security.
Possible Impacts
1. **Enhanced Access to Resources and Support**: Veterans will benefit from a comprehensive National Veterans Strategy that includes specific metrics to assess their well-being. This strategy will ensure that federal, state, and private sector resources are coordinated effectively to address the unique needs of veterans across various domains, such as health, education, and economic security. By periodically reviewing and updating these metrics based on public input, veterans will receive tailored support that reflects their diverse demographics and circumstances.
2. **Improved Outcomes in Education and Employment**: With the establishment of clear definitions of "veteran success," the legislation aims to enhance veterans' transitions into civilian life. By focusing on their valuable skills and potential contributions to the workforce, veterans will have better opportunities for education and entrepreneurship. The strategy's emphasis on economic security and civic engagement will foster an environment where veterans can thrive, thereby positively impacting both the economy and society at large.
3. **Greater Accountability and Representation**: The requirement for the President to submit a national strategy to Congress every four years, along with the opportunity for public input, ensures that veterans' voices are heard in the policymaking process. This transparency and accountability will lead to more effective initiatives that address barriers to veteran success, as federal agencies will be obligated to align their services with the established strategy. As a result, veterans will have a more significant influence on the support and services they receive, leading to improved overall outcomes.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3726 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3726
To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the President to
define veteran success and to develop and implement a National Veterans
Strategy, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 29, 2026
Mr. Moran (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the President to
define veteran success and to develop and implement a National Veterans
Strategy, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Veterans Strategy Act of
2026''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) It is in the national interest of the United States for
veterans to be successful after their service in the Armed
Forces.
(2) Veterans who are successful across various aspects of
their lives after their service in the Armed Forces provide a
continued return on investment to the United States for the
time and resources spent on their training that made them
successful in the Armed Forces.
(3) Veterans bring highly valued skills to the civilian
workforce, including leadership, problem-solving, technical
expertise, and teamwork that make the economy of the United
States stronger.
(4) Veterans' success after service can include starting a
business, working in public service, raising a family, pursuing
further education, competing in athletics, working to serve
other veterans, and improving overall health.
(5) The success of veterans enhances national security and
military readiness. Demonstrating a lifelong commitment to
those who serve strengthens recruitment, retention, and morale
throughout the Armed Forces.
(6) A veteran who uses military experience and veteran
benefits to achieve success after leaving service in the Armed
Forces is a positive influence on the next generation of people
of the United States who will consider serving in the Armed
Forces.
SEC. 3. DEFINING VETERAN SUCCESS AND NATIONAL VETERANS STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--Chapter I of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 120. Defining veteran success and National Veterans Strategy
``(a) Defining Veteran Success.--
``(1) Metrics required.--The President shall, in
collaboration with the key stakeholders described in paragraph
(3), establish metrics to determine the well-being of the
population of veterans.
``(2) Areas.--The metrics established pursuant to paragraph
(1) shall apply to areas of physical health, mental health,
spiritual health, economic security and opportunity, education,
family and social engagement, and civic engagement.
``(3) Key stakeholders.--The key stakeholders described in
this paragraph are such stakeholders as the President considers
key stakeholders for purposes of this subsection and shall
include the following:
``(A) Congress.
``(B) The Secretary.
``(C) The Secretary of Defense.
``(D) The Secretary of Labor.
``(E) The Secretary of Health and Human Services.
``(F) The Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development.
``(G) The Administrator of the Small Business
Administration.
``(H) State governments.
``(I) Local governments.
``(J) Tribal organizations.
``(K) Veterans service organizations.
``(L) Nonprofit organizations that serve veterans.
``(M) Institutions of higher learning.
``(N) Research organizations with expertise on the
veteran population.
``(O) Philanthropy associations.
``(P) Trade and professional associations.
``(Q) Private sector companies, including both
large corporations and small business concerns.
``(b) National Veterans Strategy.--
``(1) Strategy required.--The President shall formulate and
submit to Congress, not less frequently than once every four
years, a national strategy (in this subsection referred to as
the `Strategy') to align the resources and efforts of various
government, nonprofit, and private sector organizations to help
veterans achieve success in the metrics established under
subsection (a)(1).
``(2) Consultation.--
``(A) In general.--In formulating the Strategy, the
President shall consult with the key stakeholders
specified under subsection (a)(3) and the general
public.
``(B) Public participation.--The President shall
ensure that consultation under subparagraph (A)
includes public input through public hearings, surveys,
or such other methods as the President considers
appropriate to gather feedback from veterans, families
of veterans, and the general public.
``(3) Consideration of needs across demographics.--The
Strategy shall include consideration of the various needs of
veterans across demographics that include age, geographic
locations, sex, race, period of military service, disability,
health conditions, education level, and marital and family
status.
``(4) Methods for evaluation of overall well-being.--The
Strategy shall provide for methods to evaluate overall well-
being of veterans using the metrics established under
subsection (a)(1).
``(5) Direction for application of benefits and services.--
The Strategy shall--
``(A) provide direction for what benefits and
services should be applied to assist veterans who do
not meet the metrics established under subsection
(a)(1) in certain areas of health and well-being; and
``(B) prescribe how and by whom such services and
benefits should be applied to maximize effectiveness
and efficiency across Federal, State, local, nonprofit,
and private sector resources.
``(6) Delineation of services provided to organizations.--
The Strategy may include delineation of what services should be
provided by certain types of government or nongovernmental
organizations, as well as in what order different types of
services or benefits should be provided to achieve the best
result in the most efficient manner.
``(7) Direct services and federal grants.--The Strategy may
include considerations on how best to coordinate the use of
both direct services provided by Federal agencies, as well as
Federal grants for State and local governments and nonprofit
organizations, or the use of commercial services, to provide
direct services to veterans.
``(8) Evaluation of outcomes.--
``(A) In general.--The Strategy shall include
standard metrics to evaluate the outcomes achieved from
delivering services and benefits to veterans.
``(B) Consistent and uniform application of
metrics.--Each Federal agency and recipient of a
Federal grant, as a condition on continued receipt of
the grant, shall apply the standard metrics included
under subparagraph (A) consistently and uniformly
across programs.
``(c) Congressional Disapproval Procedures.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
this section, the President may not take any action with regard
to a national strategy developed under subsection (b) if,
within 60 days after the date on which Congress receives a
national strategy under such subsection, Congress enacts a
joint resolution disapproving the national strategy.
``(2) Contents of resolution.--For the purpose of paragraph
(1), `joint resolution' means only a joint resolution
introduced after the date on which the national strategy
referred to in section (b)(1) is received by Congress the
matter after the resolving clause of which is as follows: `That
Congress disapproves the National Veterans Strategy established
by the President as submitted to Congress on ______ (the blank
space being appropriately filled in).'.
``(3) Referral to committee.--A resolution described in
paragraph (2) introduced in the House of Representatives shall
be referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House
of Representatives. A resolution described in paragraph (2)
introduced in the Senate shall be referred to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate. Such a resolution may not be
reported before the 8th day after its introduction.
``(4) Discharge of committee.--If the committee to which is
referred a resolution described in paragraph (2) has not
reported such resolution (or an identical resolution) at the
end of 15 calendar days after its introduction, such committee
shall be deemed to be discharged from further consideration of
such resolution and such resolution shall be placed on the
appropriate calendar of the House involved.
``(5) Floor consideration.--
``(A) In general.--When the committee to which a
resolution is referred has reported, or has been deemed
to be discharged (under paragraph (4)) from further
consideration of, a resolution described in paragraph
(2), it is at any time thereafter in order (even though
a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed
to) for any Member of the respective House to move to
proceed to the consideration of the resolution, and all
points of order against the resolution (and against
consideration of the resolution) are waived. The motion
is highly privileged in the House of Representatives
and is privileged in the Senate and is not debatable.
The motion is not subject to amendment, or to a motion
to postpone, or to a motion to proceed to the
consideration of other business. A motion to reconsider
the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed
to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the
consideration of the resolution is agreed to, the
resolution shall remain the unfinished business of the
respective House until disposed of.
``(B) Debate.--Debate on the resolution, and on all
debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith,
shall be limited to not more than 10 hours, which shall
be divided equally between those favoring and those
opposing the resolution. A motion further to limit
debate is in order and not debatable. An amendment to,
or a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the
consideration of other business, or a motion to
recommit the resolution is not in order. A motion to
reconsider the vote by which the resolution is agreed
to or disagreed to is not in order.
``(C) Vote on final passage.--Immediately following
the conclusion of the debate on a resolution described
in paragraph (2), and a single quorum call at the
conclusion of the debate if requested in accordance
with the rules of the appropriate House, the vote on
final passage of the resolution shall occur.
``(D) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals
from the decisions of the Chair relating to the
application of the rules of the Senate or the House of
Representatives, as the case may be, to the procedure
relating to a resolution described in paragraph (2)
shall be decided without debate.
``(6) Coordination with action by other house.--If, before
the passage by one House of a resolution of that House
described in paragraph (2), that House receives from the other
House a resolution described in paragraph (2), then the
following procedures shall apply:
``(A) The resolution of the other House shall not
be referred to a committee.
``(B) With respect to a resolution described in
paragraph (2) of the House receiving the resolution--
``(i) the procedure in that House shall be
the same as if no resolution had been received
from the other House; but
``(ii) the vote on final passage shall be
on the resolution of the other House.
``(7) Rules of house of representatives and senate.--This
subsection is enacted by Congress--
``(A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the
Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, and
as such it is deemed a part of the rules of each House,
respectively, but applicable only with respect to the
procedure to be followed in that House in the case of a
resolution described in paragraph (2), and it
supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is
inconsistent with such rules; and
``(B) with full recognition of the constitutional
right of either House to change the rules (so far as
relating to the procedure of that House) at any time,
in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the
case of any other rule of that House.
``(d) Implementation of National Veterans Strategy.--
``(1) Federal, state, local, nonprofit, and private sector
coordination.--Except as provided in subsection (c) and not
before the date that is 60 days after date on which the
President submits to Congress the Strategy under subsection
(b)(1), the President shall direct the heads of Federal
agencies to coordinate with State and local governments,
nonprofit organizations, and the private sector to implement
the Strategy. Each head of a Federal agency shall ensure that
the agency aligns its resources, services, and initiatives with
the objectives outlined in the Strategy.
``(2) Incorporation into agency strategic plans.--Each head
of a Federal agency shall, as applicable, incorporate the
metrics established under subsection (a)(1) and the Strategy
into the strategic plan of the agency required by section 306
of title 5.
``(3) Annual reporting.--
``(A) In general.--Not less frequently than once
each year, the President shall submit to Congress an
annual report detailing the implementation of the
Strategy, including progress toward achieving the goals
of the Strategy in the areas specified in subsection
(a)(2).
``(B) Contents.--Each report submitted pursuant to
subparagraph (A) shall include, for the period covered
by the report, the following:
``(i) A review of the performance metrics
developed under subsection (a)(1).
``(ii) An assessment of spending pursuant
to the Strategy in each of the Federal, State,
local, nonprofit, and private sectors, how such
spending aligned with the objectives outlined
in the Strategy, and identification of
effective programs and best practices at the
State and local levels that could be replicated
in other jurisdictions.
``(iii) Identification of barriers to
success in implementing the Strategy and
recommendations for such legislative or
administrative action for the various
jurisdictional levels observed as the President
considers appropriate to improve the well-being
of the population of veterans.
``(e) Quadrennial Reviews.--
``(1) In general.--Not less frequently than once every four
years, the President shall--
``(A) review the national strategy formulated under
subsection (b)(1) and the metrics established under
subsection (a)(1); and
``(B) as the President consider necessary, update
such national strategy and metrics.
``(2) Elements.--Each review carried out under paragraph
(1) shall include the following:
``(A) Assessment of the effectiveness of
initiatives carried out pursuant to the Strategy.
``(B) Identification of challenges encountered by
the Federal Government in carrying out the Strategy.
``(C) Recommendations for legislative or
administrative action to address the challenges
identified pursuant to subparagraph (B).
``(3) Public participation.--The President shall ensure
that each review under paragraph (1) includes public input
through public hearings, surveys, or other such other methods
as the President considers appropriate to gather feedback from
veterans, families of veterans, and the general public.
``(f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to authorize an officer or employee of the Federal Government
to carry out any program or policy that is inconsistent with any other
provision of Federal law, including the elimination or rescission of
any program, benefit, or service required by a provision of Federal
law.
``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Tribal organization.--The term `Tribal organization'
has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304).
``(2) Nonprofit organization.--The term `nonprofit
organization' means an organization described in section 501(c)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation
under section 501(a) of such Code.
``(3) Veterans service organization.--The term `veterans
service organization' means an organization recognized by the
Secretary for the representation of veterans under section 5902
of this title.''.
(b) Initial Metrics.--Not earlier than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act and not later than two years after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the President shall establish the metrics
required by section 120(a)(1) of such title, as added by subsection
(a).
(c) Initial Strategy.--Not earlier than two years after the date of
the enactment of this Act and not later than four years after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress
the first strategy under section 120(b)(1) of such title, as added by
subsection (a).
(d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 1 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating
to section 119 the following new item:
``120. Defining veteran success and National Veterans Strategy.''.
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