Congress·Passed Senate·S. 3436

Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act

Veterans Benefits: Expanded Care for Veterans in Pacific Island Nations

Dec 18, 2025·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Next up: The HouseNo action in 6 months

The House must act next: House consideration.

Legislative Progress

✓ Senate

House

President

Law

Likely to pass

The bill has already passed the Senate and focuses on veteran care, which usually receives strong support from both parties in the House.

Key Points

This bill makes it easier for veterans living in the Freely Associated States to get medical care. These locations include the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
The Department of Veterans Affairs will now be required to offer telehealth services and mail-order pharmacy benefits to these veterans. This means they can talk to doctors over the internet and get their medicine delivered to their homes instead of traveling long distances.
The government will also have to pay for travel costs when these veterans need to go to medical appointments. Previously, the government could choose whether or not to pay for this travel, but now it will be a requirement.
The VA must start these new services within one year of the bill becoming law. They will also have to send reports to Congress every three months to show how much progress they are making and how much money is being spent.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.

Milestones

4 milestones8 actions

Dec 18, 2025House

Held at the desk.

Dec 18, 2025House

Received in the House.

The House has received the Senate-passed bill and will decide whether to take it up.

Dec 18, 2025Senate

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Dec 17, 2025Senate

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8874; text: CR S8874)

The Senate voted to approve this bill. If the House already passed it, it goes to the President.

Dec 17, 2025

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

The Senate voted to approve this bill. If the House already passed it, it goes to the President.

No votes or news coverage recorded for this bill yet.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act

Bill NumberS 3436

Congress119th Congress

ChamberSenate

Latest ActionHeld at the desk.

Data Sources

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

Read Full Bill Text

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(9)

D: 5R: 4

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.