Reported in House — H.R. 3812

Union Calendar No. 323

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3812

[Report No. 119–371]

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 6, 2025

Mr. Gray introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

November 7, 2025

Additional sponsors: Mr. Takano, Mr. Castro of Texas, Mr. Cohen, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Ross, Ms. Craig, Ms. Jayapal, and Mr. Figures

November 7, 2025

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 6, 2025

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the collection of a health care copayment by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from a veteran under certain conditions attributable to a failure of the Department of Veterans Affairs to process certain information within applicable timeliness standards, 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 Stop Troubling Retroactive Invoices for Veteran Expenses Act of 2025 or the STRIVE Act of 2025.

Sec. 2. Prohibition on collection of health care copayments by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under certain conditions; authority of the Secretary to waive health care copayments

(a) In general

Subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1722C the following new section:

1722D. Copayments: prohibitions on collection under certain conditions; waiver authority
(a) In general
Notwithstanding subsections (f) and (g) of section 1710 of this title, section 1722A(a) of this title, section 1725A of this title, or any other provision of law requiring an individual to make a copayment to the Secretary, the Secretary may not require a veteran to make any copayment for the receipt of hospital care or medical services under the laws administered by the Secretary after the end of the two-year period beginning on the date such veteran received such hospital care or medical services if the Secretary failed to provide the veteran notice—
(1)
of the copayment within applicable timeliness standards established by the Secretary; or
(2)
that the aggregate amount of copayments for such care or services the veteran owes to the Secretary is greater than the dollar amount described in paragraph (1) of subsection (b).
(b) Dollar amount described
(1)
The dollar amount described in this paragraph is $2,000.
(2)
On the first day of each fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of the STRIVE Act of 2025, the Secretary shall, increase the dollar amount described in paragraph (1) by a percentage equal to the percentage by which the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city average) increased during the previous fiscal year. In the event that such index does not increase during such period, the Secretary shall maintain the dollar amount in effect under paragraph (1) during the previous fiscal year.
(c) Waiver authority
The Secretary may waive the requirement for a veteran to make any copayment for the receipt of such hospital care or medical services in any case in which the Secretary determines such a waiver would be appropriate, without regard to whether the veteran submits to the Secretary a request for such waiver.

(b) Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1722C the following new item:

1722D. Copayments: prohibition on collection of under certain conditions; waiver authority.

Sec. 3. Extension of certain limits on payments of pension

Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking November 30, 2031 and inserting February 29, 2032.