Bill
S 3726
Establishes a nationwide, cross-sector National Veterans Strategy with measurable veteran well-being metrics and regular updates, oversight, and public input.
Date Introduced: January 29, 2026
House/Senate: Senate
Sponsor: Senator Moran (for himself and others)
Co-sponsors: Blumenthal, Cassidy, Boozman, McCormick, Slotkin, Blackburn
Purpose
- To amend title 38 of the United States Code to define “veteran success” and to require the President to develop and implement a National Veterans Strategy, with ongoing reporting and oversight, and procedures for Congressional disapproval.
Key Provisions
1) Defining Veteran Success and Metrics (new §120)
- The President must establish metrics to determine the well-being of the veteran population.
- Metrics cover seven broad areas:
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Spiritual health
- Economic security and opportunity
- Education
- Family and social engagement
- Civic engagement
- A wide range of key stakeholders must be consulted, including Congress, federal agencies (Secretary, Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, HUD, SBA), state/local governments, tribal organizations, veterans service organizations, nonprofits, higher education, research organizations, philanthropy associations, trade/professional associations, and private sector companies.
- The President may determine additional stakeholders as appropriate.
2) National Veterans Strategy (new §120)
- The President must formulate and submit a National Veterans Strategy to Congress at least every four years.
- The Strategy aligns resources and efforts across government, nonprofit, and private sector entities to help veterans achieve the defined metrics.
- Public consultation is required, including hearings and surveys to gather input from veterans, families, and the general public.
- The Strategy must address needs across demographics (age, geography, sex, race, service period, disability, health, education, marital/family status).
- The Strategy must include evaluation methods for overall veteran well-being and guidance on applying benefits and services to maximize effectiveness and efficiency.
- It may delineate which services are provided by which types of organizations and in what order services should be delivered to optimize outcomes.
- It may address the use of direct federal services, federal grants, and private sector or commercial services to deliver veteran assistance.
- It must establish standard outcome metrics and require uniform application by federal agencies and grant recipients.
3) Congressional Disapproval Procedures (new §120, subsection (c))
- If Congress passes a joint resolution disapproving the Strategy within 60 days of receipt, the President may not implement the Strategy.
- Disapproval resolution procedures include:
- Longer wait and referral to relevant committees.
- Timelines for reporting and floor debate with defined limits on debate (up to 10 hours) and specific procedural controls.
- Referral and coordination between Houses if both pass resolutions.
4) Implementation and Oversight (new §120, subsection (d))
- Federal, state, local, nonprofit, and private sector coordination is required to implement the Strategy, starting 60 days after the President submits the Strategy to Congress.
- Federal agency heads must align resources with Strategy objectives; agency strategic plans must incorporate the defined metrics.
- Annual reporting to Congress detailing:
- Progress toward goals in the listed areas.
- A review of performance metrics.
- An assessment of spending and alignment with Strategy goals.
- Replicable best practices and identified barriers, with recommendations for legislative or administrative actions.
5) Quadrennial and Public Involvement (new §120, subsections (e))
- Triennial (well, four-year cadence) reviews to assess effectiveness and update the Strategy and metrics as needed.
- Public input is required in these reviews.
6) Administrative and Clarifying Provisions
- Rule of construction clarifies that nothing in this section authorizes reducing or eliminating any existing program, benefit, or service required by federal law.
- Definitions provided for Tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations, and veterans service organizations.
Effective Dates
- Initial metrics: to be established within 1-2 years after enactment.
- Initial Strategy: due 2-4 years after enactment.
- Table of sections updated to include §120.
Potential Impact
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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