WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – and Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) – chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – introduced legislation to increase access to mental health and addiction services and other life-saving care for veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 is supported by major veteran service organizations including Wounded Warrior Project, The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, America’s Warrior Partnership and others whose statements of support are included below.

"Wounded Warrior Project is pleased to support the Veterans' ACCESS Act, a bill that reflects our continued commitment to improve veterans' access to mental health care,” said Jose Ramos, Vice President for Government & Community Relations for the Wounded Warrior Project. “In addition to proposing a range of enhancements to health care access and coordination more generally, this legislation specifically targets the challenges many veterans face when pursuing a heightened level of care and support through mental health residential rehabilitation treatment programs.  We are grateful for Chairman Moran and Chairman Bost for their leadership on veterans' mental health policy and for prioritizing these issues in the earliest days of the 119th Congress."

“The American Legion fully supports this long-overdue piece of legislation which will finally address major issues plaguing the VA Community Care Program,” said Mario Marquez, Executive Director of The American Legion. “Our 1.6 million dues-paying members overwhelmingly support these reforms, including codification of access standards to include consideration of veterans preference. This legislation keeps with our belief that the VA should remain the care coordinator while providing realistic solutions to the friction veterans face in scheduling community appointments. We look forward to working with Chairmen Moran and Bost to ensure the bill’s passage.”

“The VFW supports the ACCESS Act, which would improve care and services for veterans using the Community Care Program,” said Pat Murray, the National Legislative Director for VFW.  “This is a vital component of VA Healthcare, but it doesn’t always work as it is supposed to. This proposal is a good step toward making Community Care work for all veterans. The VFW is grateful that Chairmen Moran and Bost are prioritizing veteran healthcare, and we look forward to assisting in the passage of this bill into law.”

“VA’s health care system provides crucial direct care to support the continued health of veterans with catastrophic injuries and illnesses,” said Carl Blake, Chief Executive Officer of Paralyzed Veterans of America. “We appreciate Congress’s efforts to improve the system, including providing access when needed to community care services. We look forward to working with Chairman Moran and Chairman Bost to ensure that any efforts to make improvements to VA’s system of care promote access to all parts of VA’s health care system for veterans with the most significant disabilities.”

“The right to choose is fundamental to the freedom granted in America,” said Jim Lorraine, President and Chief Executive Officer of America’s Warrior Partnership. “Veterans must have the freedom to manage the healthcare they’ve earned through the defense of all American’s freedoms.  America's Warrior Partnership strongly supports the Veterans ACCESS ACT, which will provide veterans with healthcare choices through direct care from the Department of Veterans Affairs and through the Community Care Network, which provides continuity of care close to home and without delay.  This is one more step to establishing a veteran-focused VA and strengthening the nation’s commitment to those who've served and those who will serve.”  

“MOAA thanks Chairmen Moran and Bost for introducing the Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act at a critical time for veterans’ mental health care,” said Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly, President and Chief Executive Officer of MOAA. “More work is needed to expand mental health and substance use treatment in communities, especially rural areas where VA services are limited. We look forward to collaborating with the Veterans’ Affairs Committees and urge close cooperation with VSOs and stakeholders during the legislative process.”

“The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is proud to support The Veterans’ ACCESS Act of 2025. This pivotal legislation will help streamline care for veterans and ease access to mental health resources and programs, which we know are top priorities for veterans and their caregivers,” said Steve Schwab, Chief Executive Officer of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “We are thankful to Chairman Moran for introducing this legislation and look forward to our continued work together to improve care both within the VA and the community.”

"The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is grateful to Chairmen Moran and Bost for introducing the Veterans’ ACCESS Act to improve Community Care access for Veterans, Families, Caregivers and Survivors,” said Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. “TAPS knows first-hand that access to VA care is incredibly important but access to community care, when VA care is unavailable or inadequate, is equally important. With 29 percent of new survivors coming to TAPS due to suicide loss and 37 percent due to illness loss, we know that ensuring access to these programs is life changing and lifesaving, and look forward to seeing the Veterans’ ACCESS Act pass into law this Congress."

“The Veterans’ ACCESS Act addresses many key issues as it relates to transparency, efficiency, and overall improvement to access for our veterans and their families,” said Jack McManus, President of Vietnam Veterans of America. “We support this effort and applaud Sen Moran for applying common sense to just getting our veterans the care they have earned.”

“To echo the sentiments of our friends at Vietnam Veterans of America we are deeply appreciative of the efforts to simplify, untangle and reduce the bureaucracy as it relates to access to care, especially critical access to inpatient Mental Health programs that are often delayed and in several cases those delays contributed to the suicide of some of our veterans,” said Robert Olivarez, National Commander of Military Order of the Purple Heart. “It is time to fix this system and make it work more efficiently.”

“Unfortunately, the VA has never implemented the intended quality standards for its community network providers, nor established a robust care coordination program for veterans receiving VA direct care services and care in the community,” said Joy Ilem, National Legislative Director for Disabled American Veterans. “DAV would like to thank Sen. Jerry Moran for introducing “The Veterans’ ACCESS Act,” which would improve access standards for rural veterans to include mental health residential rehabilitation and make other necessary reforms to ensure veterans do not fall through the cracks or receive a substandard level of care in the community.”

“For too long, veterans have been denied access to the care our nation has promised because the VA refused to carry out the MISSION Act, signed into law by President Trump in 2018,” said Nate Anderson, Senior Advisor for the Concerned Veterans for America. “The Veterans’ ACCESS Act, sponsored by Rep. Bost and Sen. Moran, will complete this mission for veterans by ensuring VA fulfills the original promise of the MISSION Act. By protecting and expanding access to VA and community care treatment choices alike, the Veterans’ ACCESS Act will provide accountability and choice by putting the veteran, not bureaucracy, first.”

“Congratulations on introducing the Veterans’ ACCESS Act, important legislation that we are very proud and excited to support. AFP activists across the country work hard every day to give all Americans a Personal Option in health care -- hassle-free health care you can afford,” said Dean Clancy, Senior Health Policy Fellow for Americans for Prosperity. “VA Community Care is the Personal Option for veterans, offering them access to the high-quality medical care they need, when they need it. The failure of the Veterans Administration to implement VA Community Care, as required by the historic MISSION Act, has done a terrible disservice to our nation's veterans. The Veterans' ACCESS Act will close the gap and give veterans the Personal Option they deserve. As you work to enact this vitally needed legislation, thousands of AFP activists across the country will be right there beside you.”

The Veterans’ ACCESS Act is also supported by the National Defense Committee, the Hunter Seven Foundation and the Association of Mature American Citizens.

# # #