Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act
Bipartisan Bill Proposes 180 Days of Health Insurance and Job Training for Veteran Caregivers
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- The bill provides family caregivers with 180 extra days of health insurance after they stop providing care. This helps them stay covered while they look for a new job or transition to a different life stage, as long as they aren't already on Medicare.
- Caregivers would receive up to $1,000 to pay for professional licenses or certifications needed for work. They would also get free access to government training modules and job-hunting help from the Department of Labor and the military.
- The VA would offer retirement planning services and grief counseling to help families after a veteran passes away. This recognizes that caregiving is a full-time job that often prevents people from saving for their own future or career.
- The government would study how to hire former caregivers for jobs at the VA and look into creating special retirement savings accounts for them. This aims to help caregivers turn their experience into a long-term career or financial security.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
The bill directs the VA to study how to hire former caregivers at VA facilities to address staffing shortages. If the study leads to action, it could create a new hiring pipeline of people with hands-on caregiving experience, potentially helping fill hard-to-staff positions at VA medical centers and clinics.
Programs
Milestones
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-86.
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.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
4 articlesFrom Service to Support: Why Congress Must Act for Veteran Caregivers
Senator Jerry Moran and Steve Schwab argue for the passage of the Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act, highlighting that caregivers provide $400 billion in unpaid care but face financial ruin and lack of retirement security when their service ends.
House Veterans' Affairs Committee Tackles Major Benefits Bills
The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a markup session for H.R. 2148, the 'Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act.' The bill aims to provide employment and retirement support for caregivers who often sacrifice their own financial security to care for veterans.
Chairman Bost and CVA in The Hill: Make 2026 the year veterans have more control of their health care
House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost outlines legislative priorities for 2026, including expanding support systems for family caregivers through the Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act to ensure they aren't left behind after a veteran's passing.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(3)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.