H.R. 439: Veterans Foreign Medical Coverage Equality and Modernization Act of 2025

119th Congress · introduced 2025-01-15 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

Veterans Foreign Medical Coverage Equality and Modernization Act of 2025

Plain summary

Veterans Foreign Medical Coverage Equality and Modernization Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish hospital care and medical services abroad (i.e., outside any state) to a veteran with a service-connected disability rated as permanent and total who is otherwise eligible for such care if the VA determines certain requirements are met. Specifically, the VA must furnish such care to an eligible veteran if it determines (1) the hospital care or medical services are consistent with the standard medical practice in the United States, and (2) any prescription medication furnished is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. For any care provided abroad, the VA must ensure (1) reimbursements made to veterans and medical providers can be made by direct deposit; and (2) the VA’s mobile applications provide for digital submission, real-time tracking of required forms, and the availability of specified documents associated with care or services, such as a benefits authorization letter.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Veterans Foreign Medical Coverage Equality and Modernization Act of 2025

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1] · 22 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Susie Lee (D-NV), Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Donald G. Davis (D-NC), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Michael Lawler (R-NY), Laura Gillen (D-NY), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), André Carson (D-IN), Eugene Simon Vindman (D-VA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Timothy M. Kennedy (D-NY), Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1] reported raising $4.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-119hr439.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr>

Record fed-us-cong119-hr439 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills