Protecting Veterans in Crisis Act
The Protecting Veterans in Crisis Act would expand congressional oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Crisis Line (VCL). It requires the VA to notify Congress at least 48 hours before terminating any VCL employee, including the reason for termination, whether the employee is a veteran or a military spouse, and a plan to maintain mission readiness. The bill also mandates initial and ongoing reporting on VCL staffing, terminations, and performance metrics (such as wait times and unanswered calls), with monthly updates through January 20, 2029. In addition, it directs a Comptroller General (GAO) review within 180 days of enactment to assess the VCL’s operation and propose improvements. The overall aim is to increase transparency, strengthen workforce protections, and ensure the VCL can reliably meet caller demand.
Key Points
- 1Pre-termination notification: Requires the VA Secretary to inform the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees at least 48 hours before terminating any VCL employee, including justification for termination, veteran/military spouse status, and a detailed continuity plan for mission readiness. The provision sunsets on January 20, 2029.
- 2Personnel reporting (initial): Within 30 days of enactment, the VA must report on VCL staffing as of January 20, 2025, including counts by job category, probationary status, veteran status, military spouse status, and reintegration/reinstatement dates; and it must break out planned terminations around February 13 and February 24, 2025.
- 3Ongoing operations and performance reporting: Requires monthly reports (beginning 30 days after enactment and continuing until January 20, 2029) detailing VCL performance, wait times, unanswered calls, staffing ratios, and resource status.
- 4Comptroller General review: Within 180 days of enactment, the GAO must deliver a report with an assessment of VCL operations and recommendations for improvement, submitted to relevant Senate and House committees.
- 5Definition and scope: The term “Veterans Crisis Line” refers to the toll-free veterans’ crisis line established under 38 U.S.C. 1720F(h), ensuring the bill’s oversight applies to the official VCL program.