VA gets modern tools to reach at-risk newly separated veterans
H.R. 3386 — Streamlining the Solid Start Communications Act · Filed by Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) · Introduced May 14, 2025 · Hearing held
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What it does
This bill amends the Veterans Affairs Solid Start program to expand how the VA can contact newly separated veterans. Instead of limiting outreach to 'tailored mailings,' the bill permits the VA to use text messages, virtual chat, email, and other electronic communications. The change allows the VA to reach veterans through modern communication channels they are more likely to use and respond to.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole function is to update the statutory authority governing how the VA communicates with newly separated veterans, replacing an outdated 'mailings only' restriction with modern multi-channel communication methods. This is a technical modernization of existing program authority, not a policy expansion.
What the text implies
- Expands VA's ability to contact veterans at scale via text and chat, which may increase engagement but also creates new data-collection and privacy considerations around phone numbers and messaging platforms.
- The phrase 'other electronic forms of messaging' is open-ended and may permit future communication channels (social media, push notifications, etc.) without requiring additional legislative amendment.
- Solid Start targets newly separated veterans within 90 days of discharge—a high-risk period for suicide and mental health crises. Improved outreach may measurably increase crisis intervention and resource uptake, but effectiveness depends on VA implementation and staffing.
Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.
Who it affects
Veterans gain access to more responsive, modern communication channels during a critical transition period when they are most vulnerable to suicide and mental health crises. Expanding the VA's ability to reach newly separated veterans through their preferred communication methods (text, chat) increases the likelihood they will receive timely support and resources.
Named in the bill
Department of Veterans Affairs, Solid Start program, 38 USC 6320(b)
Where it stands
- May 14, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
- May 14, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Veterans' Affairs · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs”
- Jun 11, 2025 — Hearing held · Congress.gov: “Subcommittee Hearings Held”
Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.
Money around this bill
1 lobbying clients named this bill on 2 disclosure filings across 2 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $310,451 in lobbying spend. A filing names 170 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.
More lobbying clients named this bill than 0% of bills with at least one filing.
Derrick Van Orden, the sponsor, reported $1,070,491 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.
- Disabled American Veterans — $310,451 on 2 filings
Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 21, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.
How this was measured
Analysis — Quorum's AI read the bill text published by Congress.gov (436 characters) on Jun 8, 2026. Section numbers in the findings refer to that text, linked below; transparency and hidden-provision scores are compared against the median of 16,222 analysed bills.
Status and sponsors — Congress.gov's bill record — actions, committee referrals and cosponsors — loaded nightly. The timeline shows status changes, not every procedural action.
Money — Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act filings whose specific-issue field names this bill for quarters ending Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. A filing's amount is reported whole beside the median number of bills a filing names; it is never divided across them. PAC receipts are FEC-reported contributions to the sponsor's candidate committee in the 2026 cycle.
As of — lobbying records through Jul 21, 2026 · page rendered 2026-10-20.
“VA gets modern tools to reach at-risk newly separated veterans” QuorumCivic. https://share.quorumcivic.app/bill/119/hr3386 Report an error
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