Protecting the 2nd Amendment Rights of Veterans

Navigating the Department Veterans Affairs can be complicated. My office gets calls for help with getting their benefits processed all the time. So it makes sense that a lot of veterans reach out for assistance from a fiduciary to manage their finances and VA benefits because of a disability. What doesn't make sense is the fact that doing so gets these individuals reported to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and stripped of their Second Amendment rights. But it's true. It happens often enough that some veterans are worried to the point they are not going to the VA for their earned care and services. House Republicans are doing something about it.

I am a proud co-sponsor of the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, which prohibits the VA from transmitting personally identifying information (PII) of a veteran or a beneficiary to the NICS solely on the basis that such veteran or beneficiary has an appointed fiduciary to manage their benefits, unless there is an order or finding of a judicial authority that such veteran or beneficiary is a danger to themselves or others.

This bill ensures that no veteran in the 7th District loses their Second Amendment right to bear arms simply because the VA appoints someone to help them manage their benefits.

I am pleased to say it has now been reported out of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and I look forward to it coming to the House floor for a vote. I have also joined my colleagues in sending a letter to the MILCON-VA Appropriations Subcommittee requesting that the FY2026 VA appropriations bill retain language prohibiting the VA from reporting veterans to the NICS database without a judicial finding that they are a danger to themselves or others.

Getting Reimbursements for Minnesota VA Projects

Minnesota and the Department of Veterans Affairs teamed up to construct State Veterans Homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston. These homes are long-term care facilities to serve eligible veterans. They play a vital role in supporting aging veterans, particularly in rural and underserved areas, by offering high-quality, affordable care close to home. While Minnesota manages the homes, the VA agreed to pay for a portion of the construction, which was critical.

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs brought it to the attention of the delegation that they have requested reimbursement for the federal government's portion of the projects, and our full delegation has sent a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins requesting an update on the status of these reimbursements as soon as possible.

Increasing Veteran Access to Care

We all hear the terrible stories of veterans and their families dealing with unacceptable wait times and restrictions when it comes to receiving care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This is especially disturbing for those who need critical care like cancer treatment or treatment for their mental health. And yet, under the Biden Administration, House Republicans learned that VA bureaucrats were restricting healthcare choices for veterans on purpose to keep them stuck in the VA system's backlog.

I am a proud cosponsor of the Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act, which would enforce existing access standards and stop the VA from manipulating wait times to limit access to community care. It also establishes a defined access standard for the provision of residential substance abuse and mental health treatment, because when a veteran in an addiction crisis is ready to get help, time is of the essence. And, this bill requires more transparency from the VA when they are deciding their best care options, whether at the VA or through a community-based provider.

Simplifying Veterans Claims Forms

One more way I am working to make it easier to navigate the difficult processes when dealing with the Department of Veterans Affairs is by cosponsoring the Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act. It simply should not be so hard for veterans and their families to complete standard forms through the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and this bill would require the VA to study and provide recommendations for revising these forms to be easier to understand. Once the study is complete, the VA Secretary must report the findings to Congress and implement recommendations.

Thank you for reading!

fischbach.house.gov

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