H.R. 7838 — Veteran Artists Healing Act

This section establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) procurement program authorizing the head of each VA medical center to directly purchase original artwork from enrolled veteran patients using micro-purchase authority (41 U.S.C. 1902), up to an aggregate of $2,500 per veteran per fiscal year. Qualifying veterans must have a clinical recommendation for creative arts therapy or a history of participation in the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival; artwork must be certified by the veteran as original, non-partisan, and focused on themes of recovery, nature, or service; and such procurements (1) require no approval from district, regional, or Veterans Integrated Service Network officials (except as required by law); (2) are exempt from System for Awards Management registration, Small Business Administration certification, multiple-source solicitation, or equitable distribution requirements (e.g., 41 U.S.C. 1902(e) and 15 U.S.C. 644(j)), provided the price is reasonable; and (3) count toward VA contracting goals for veteran-owned small businesses (38 U.S.C. 8127, 8128).