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To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize caregivers of veterans, notify veterans and caregivers of clinical determinations relating to eligibility for caregiver programs, and temporarily extend benefits for veterans who are determined ineligible for the family caregiver program, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize and identify all caregivers of veterans in their health records, including both family caregivers and support services caregivers. The bill mandates that the VA notify veterans and caregivers using standardized letters when making clinical determinations about eligibility, tier changes, or termination of caregiver assistance programs. When a veteran is determined ineligible for the family caregiver program, the bill requires the VA to extend caregiver benefits for at least 90 days after notification, unless certain exceptions apply such as caregiver fraud or abuse, replacement of the caregiver, or voluntary termination. The bill aims to provide transparency and consistency in how the VA communicates with veterans and caregivers about program changes. These requirements apply to both the comprehensive assistance program and the support services program for veteran caregivers.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5] (R-AZ)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Andy Biggs’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- SAULSBURY INDUSTRIES $9,900
- 21ST CENTURY HEALTHCARE $7,500
- ULINE $6,600
- TW LEWIS COMPANY $6,600
- LEE BENSON $6,600
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Andy Biggs → · Outside spending →
Actions (3)
- Dec 19, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. · house
- Jan 3, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. · house
- Jan 3, 2025 Introduced in House
More bills on these subjects (8)
Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2025
Mr. Biggs of Arizona introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize caregivers of veterans, notify veterans and caregivers of clinical determinations relating to eligibility for caregiver programs, and temporarily extend benefits for veterans who are determined ineligible for the family caregiver program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Transparency and Effective Accountability Measures for Veteran Caregivers Act” or the “TEAM Veteran Caregivers Act”.
SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF ADMINISTRATION OF CAREGIVER PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Official Designation of Caregivers.—
(1) In general.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall formally recognize all caregivers of veterans by identifying any caregiver of a veteran in the health record of the veteran.
(2) Inclusion.—Caregivers recognized under paragraph (1) shall include—
(A) family caregivers participating in the program of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers under subsection (a) of section 1720G of title 38, United States Code; and
(B) caregivers participating in the program of support services for caregivers under subsection (b) of such section.
(b) Notification Letters Regarding Clinical Determinations.—
(1) In general.—The Secretary, using a standardized letter, shall notify veterans and caregivers of veterans regarding any clinical determinations made relating to claims, tier reduction, or termination of assistance under, or eligibility for, a caregiver program under subsection (a) or
(b) of section 1720G of title 38, United States Code.
(2) Elements.—Notifications under paragraph (1) shall include the elements required for notices of decisions under section 5104(b) of title 38, United States Code, to the extent that those elements apply to determinations under paragraph
(1).
(c) Temporary Extension of Benefits for Family Caregiver Program.—
(1) In general.—Upon determining that a veteran who was receiving services under the program of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers under subsection (a) of section 1720G of title 38, United States Code, is no longer clinically eligible for purposes of such program, the Secretary shall extend benefits under such program, including stipends under paragraph (3)(A)(ii)(V) of such subsection, for not less than 90 days after the date of notification under subsection
(b) that the veteran is no longer clinically eligible.
(2) Exclusion.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the termination of caregiver benefits—
(A) if the Secretary determines that the family caregiver committed fraud or abused or neglected the veteran;
(B) if the family caregiver was designated under section 1720G(a)(7) of title 38, United States Code, as the primary provider of personal care services for the veteran and another primary provider is designated within 90 days after the date of termination, in which case benefits for the terminated primary provider will terminate the day before the date on which the new primary provider is designated;
(C) if another individual is designated to be a family caregiver within 90 days after the date of termination, such that there are three family caregivers assigned to the veteran, in which case benefits for the terminated family caregiver will terminate the day before the date on which the new family caregiver is designated;
(D) the terminated individual had been living with the veteran and moves out, or the terminated individual abandons or terminates his or her relationship with the veteran; or
(E) upon request of the family caregiver or the veteran. <all>
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