Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act of 2025
The Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act of 2025 would authorize Members of Congress to use Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities to meet with constituents, specifically veterans and their families. The VA Secretary, together with the General Services Administration (GSA), would identify available spaces in VA facilities for this purpose and establish regulations within 90 days of enactment. The regulations would set conditions on space use (hours, visibility to constituents, rent, etc.), protect against political campaigning and privacy/security violations, and prevent use within 60 days of federal elections. The overall goal is to make it easier for constituents to access their elected representatives by leveraging existing VA facilities, while maintaining security, privacy, and nonpartisan operation.
Key Points
- 1The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, upon a Member of Congress’s request, must allow use of a VA facility to meet constituents, with space identified by VA in coordination with GSA.
- 2Regulations to be issued within 90 days must ensure: spaces are open during normal hours, visible/accessible to constituents, and rents align with general market rates (as set by GSA).
- 3The use cannot involve political campaigning or lobbying, cannot interfere with facility security or operations, and must prohibit photographing or recording of patients, visitors, or VA staff without consent; and prohibit campaign-related photography/recording.
- 4The space cannot be used during the 60 days preceding a federal election in the jurisdiction where the facility is located.
- 5Use must not be unreasonably restricted if suitable space exists that would not disrupt VA operations.