Congress·In Committee·H.R. 3183

Rep. Budzinski Introduces SAFE STEPS Act to Protect Veterans from Dangerous Falls

SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025

1 day ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

The bill creates a new Office of Falls Prevention inside the Veterans Health Administration, led by a Chief Officer who reports to the Under Secretary for Health. This office becomes the central hub for monitoring, improving, and coordinating all VA falls prevention efforts.
From policy text
“The Under Secretary for Health shall establish and operate in the Veterans Health Administration the Office of Falls Prevention”
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Veterans in VA nursing homes or long-term care who have fallen or are at risk of falling must receive a falls risk assessment and prevention services from a licensed physical or occupational therapist — a new mandatory standard of care.
From policy text
“the Secretary shall ensure that a licensed physical therapist or a licensed occupational therapist conducts a falls risk assessment for the individual and provides fall prevention services during the stay of the individual in the nursing home”
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The VA must launch a national education campaign targeting veterans at risk for falls, their families, and healthcare providers. The Chief Officer can also award grants or contracts to local organizations running their own fall-prevention outreach.
From policy text
“award grants or contracts to qualified organizations for the purpose of supporting local education campaigns focusing on reducing falls, falls with major injury, and repeat falls for veterans”
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The bill directs research on how home modifications and medication management can prevent falls, including a joint expert panel with the National Institute on Aging. The VA must also study whether a pilot program for home improvements to prevent falls is feasible.
From policy text
“Research addressing medication management and polypharmacy as risk factors for falls prevention and developing recommendations for providers and electronic health records systems of the Department to monitor for veterans at risk of falls based on use of certain medications”
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Within 180 days, the VA must update its directives to require biennial safe-patient-handling training for all providers and ensure every facility — especially emergency settings — has the right technology for safe transfers and fall recovery.
From policy text
“Requiring biennial training for providers, including that all providers be trained in safe patient handling and use of mobility aids and mobility techniques”
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VeteransHealthcare

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones3 actions

Mar 18, 2026House

Committee Hearings Held

May 5, 2025House

Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

May 5, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

180 days after enactment

VA must update safe patient handling directives and the expert panel on falls prevention must be established

Within 6 months of enactment, VA staff would begin following new training requirements and an 8-member expert panel would start developing recommendations for preventing falls among veterans with disabilities.

1 year after enactment

VA submits plan to Congress on whether a home-modification pilot program for falls prevention will move forward

Veterans would learn whether the VA plans to offer home improvements — like grab bars and ramps — specifically designed to prevent falls, which could expand benefits for eligible veterans.

2 years after enactment

Chief Officer of Falls Prevention submits a comprehensive report to Congress on VA falls prevention initiatives

Congress would get its first detailed look at how well the VA's falls prevention efforts are working, including data on screening, home modifications, and where gaps remain — potentially leading to further improvements.

Related News

2 articles

SooLeader·11 months ago

Lawmakers push for new VA office to reduce veteran fall risks

Bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep. Jack Bergman and others aims to establish an Office of Falls Prevention within the Veterans Health Administration to help older veterans avoid injuries from costly and dangerous falls through improved screening and research.

PN Online·3 months ago

Washington Update for December

During a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing, the SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act was discussed as a proactive approach to reorienting existing VA fall prevention programs, which could save the government millions in medical costs by preventing hospitalizations.