WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 1147, the Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act. This legislation, introduced by Congressman Valadao earlier this Congress, would make the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) more accessible for our disabled veterans by establishing a permanent advisory committee within the VA to allow for direct and regular communication with the Secretary on behalf of disabled veterans. Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03) co-led this legislation.

“I’m proud to see the House pass my Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act with strong bipartisan support,” said Congressman Valadao. “This bill gives disabled veterans a permanent voice at the highest levels of the VA, ensuring that their experiences help shape the policies, services, and facilities they rely on. Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, and we have a responsibility to remove the barriers that stand between them and the care they’ve earned, and this bill brings us one step closer to fulfilling that promise.”

The Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act:

• Requires the VA Secretary to create a permanent advisory committee on issues related to the accessibility of VA benefits, services, and facilities for veterans and employees with mobility impairments, hearing, visual, cognitive, or other disabilities.
• Eliminates an inactive Department of Veterans Affairs advisory committee not established by Congress, consolidate two smaller committees, or recommend the termination of an inactive committee established by Congress to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs.
• Would be composed of 15 individuals including disabled veterans, experts, employees, and veteran service organization representatives.
• Provides informal consultations and advice to the Secretary and other VA officials, as well as formal reports. 

Read the full bill here.

Prior to the vote, Congressman Valadao spoke on the House floor to urge passage of the bill. You can watch his full remarks here or read them as prepared below:

I urge my colleagues to support the Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act, which would make the Department of Veterans Affairs more accessible for our disabled veterans.

Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, and we have a responsibility to make sure they receive the benefits and services they’ve earned.

Sadly, too many disabled veterans face unnecessary obstacles in accessing care because of avoidable barriers at the VA.

This bipartisan bill would create a permanent advisory committee within the VA made up of disabled veterans, experts, and advocates who understand these challenges firsthand. 

This committee will give our veterans a direct line to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs—ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are prioritized.

This is a commonsense, bipartisan step to improve oversight, enhance accessibility, and uphold our nation’s commitment to the men and women who have sacrificed so much defending our freedoms.

I want to thank Chairman Bost and his staff at the Committee on Veterans Affairs for their work on this important bill to make the VA more accessible for the disabled veterans it serves.

Thank you, and I yield back.

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