Have You Served Act

Bill Summary: Have You Served Act (H.R. 5995)

Overview

The Have You Served Act is a legislative proposal designed to increase the identification of veterans and service members within the broader social service and healthcare systems. The bill directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program that encourages human services professionals and government agencies to proactively "Ask the Question"—specifically, asking clients if they or a loved one have served in the Armed Forces—to ensure they are connected with available veteran-specific resources.

Main Purpose and Intent

Many veterans are unaware of the benefits available to them, or they may not identify themselves as veterans when seeking general human services. This bill aims to bridge that gap by training non-VA professionals to identify veterans and refer them to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other support systems, with a particular emphasis on suicide prevention and holistic health.

Key Provisions

1. Grant Program for "Ask the Question" Campaigns

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized to provide grants to "eligible entities" to develop and expand campaigns that train providers on:
* Proper Inquiry: How to appropriately ask consumers about their military service.
* Resource Referral: Information on available VA and community resources to facilitate immediate referrals.
* Operational Support: Funds may be used for staffing, technology, marketing materials, and program convenings.

2. Eligible Entities

To receive a grant, an entity must be a State (including territories and D.C.) or an American Indian or Alaska Native tribe, provided they:
* Develop a veteran suicide prevention plan (referred to as a "Governors Challenge Action Plan" for States).
* Submit a qualified implementation proposal to the Secretary.

3. Technical Assistance and Federal Integration

• VA Support: The Secretary will provide best practices, information on local veteran resources, and screening protocols for suicide risk and social determinants of health.
• Federal Agency Coordination: The Secretary and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will develop a plan to implement similar "Ask the Question" campaigns across other federal departments and agencies.

Financial and Procedural Details

• Funding: The bill authorizes $6,000,000 per fiscal year from 2026 through 2030.
• Grant Limits: The Secretary may award up to 25 grants per year, with each grant capped at $200,000.
• Accountability: Grant recipients must report key performance indicators annually. The Secretary must provide an implementation report to Congress within one year of enactment and subsequent annual reports.

Who is Affected?

• Veterans and Service Members: Likely to see increased identification and access to services when interacting with state or local government and community providers.
• Human Services Professionals: Will receive training and guidance on how to screen for veteran status.
• State and Tribal Governments: Eligible to apply for funding to integrate veteran-specific screenings into their social service infrastructures.
• Federal Agencies: May be required to integrate these campaigns into their respective health and social service programs.