Congress Passes Bill to Speed Up Disability Exams for Rural Veterans by Expanding Contract Staff
This bill passed the House and was sent to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs in September 2025. It is currently stalled because no action has been taken on the bill for nine months. The Senate must act for the bill to move forward, but it is common for House bills to never receive a vote in the Senate.
No action since September 2025
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Reintroduced
Reintroduced from H.R. 8881 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
H.R. 8881 (118th) →Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Rural veterans often face long travel distances and wait times to get the medical disability exams they need to qualify for VA benefits. By expanding which licensed health care professionals can perform these contract exams — from just a few specialist types to any qualified professional — more examiners become available, especially in underserved areas. This should cut down on delays and make it easier for veterans to access the benefits they've earned.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4289)
The House fast-tracked this bill — limited debate, no amendments allowed, but needs two-thirds support to pass.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4289: 1)
The House fast-tracked this bill — limited debate, no amendments allowed, but needs two-thirds support to pass.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3951.
Rep. Juan Ciscomani discusses the House passage of H.R. 3951, which aims to reduce wait times for rural veterans by allowing any licensed health care professional to perform contract disability exams and requiring the VA to establish a mechanism for submitting evidence during examinations.
The Department of Veterans Affairs extended contracts for four companies providing medical disability exams to handle a surge in claims driven by the PACT Act. The extension covers over 9 million exams with a ceiling of $13.2 billion, highlighting the reliance on private contractors for benefits.
Bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Gluesenkamp Perez, Ciscomani, and Davis seeks to expand the types of licensed medical professionals who can perform VA disability exams. The bill aims to solve the problem of limited provider access in rural areas by making license portability permanent.
No votes recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025
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