July 16, 2026
Mr. Cassidy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to use amounts under the Veteran-Directed Care program to provide care to veterans with acquired brain injury, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Veteran Acquired Brain Injury Caregiving Act
.
Sec. 2. Pilot program on use of amounts under Veteran-Directed Care program to provide care to veterans with acquired brain injury
(a) In general
Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a five-year pilot program under which an eligible veteran may use funds under the Veteran-Directed Care program to purchase care from an eligible veteran mission-driven nonprofit.
(b) Locations
The Secretary shall select not fewer than five medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs at which to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a).
(c) Annual report
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than annually thereafter until the termination of the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report containing the following:
(1)
The number of eligible veterans receiving assistance under the pilot program.
(2)
The number of eligible veteran mission-driven nonprofits participating in the pilot program.
(3)
An evaluation of the clinical outcomes of veterans participating in the pilot program, veteran satisfaction with the pilot program, and other relevant data the Secretary determines appropriate.
(d) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Eligible veteran
The term eligible veteran means a veteran who—
(A)
is clinically assessed to have an acquired brain injury; and
(B)
is an eligible veteran under section 1720L of title 38, United States Code.
(2) Eligible veteran mission-driven nonprofit
The term eligible veteran mission-driven nonprofit means an organization—
(A)
described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code; and
(B)
that provides services provided under the Veteran-Directed Care program for a veteran.
(3) Veteran-Directed Care program
The term Veteran-Directed Care program means the program under section 1720L(b) of title 38, United States Code.