Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act of 2025

The Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act of 2025 (H.R. 980) makes several changes to how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides on-campus educational and vocational counseling, broadens the types of training that can be included in VA’s vocational rehabilitation programs, and strengthens VA outreach and processing timelines. Notably, it removes a current requirement that on-campus counseling must be delivered by certain VA employees, allows non-degree flight training to be approved as part of veterans’ rehabilitation programs, and imposes new outreach duties (including a dedicated contact line, regular Q&A for school officials, and in-person briefings for veterans). It also extends the time allowed to decide certain pension-related extensions and extends a pension payment deadline. Some provisions take effect on August 1, 2025, and others specify ongoing reporting and 30-day decision timelines for extensions.