H.R. 8224 — National Veterans Strategy Act of 2026

This section states congressional findings that veterans' post-service success is in the national interest because it provides a return on the U.S. investment in their training, strengthens the economy through their skills (e.g., leadership and teamwork), encompasses areas such as entrepreneurship and health, enhances national security and military readiness, and positively influences future recruits.

This section establishes metrics for measuring the well-being of veterans in areas of physical health, mental health, spiritual health, economic security and opportunity, education, family and social engagement, and civic engagement. The President must develop the metrics in collaboration with key stakeholders, including Congress, specified federal officials and agencies (e.g., Secretaries of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development; Small Business Administration Administrator), state and local governments, tribal organizations, veterans service organizations, nonprofits, institutions of higher learning, research organizations, philanthropy associations, trade associations, and private sector companies. This section further requires the President to formulate and submit to Congress, at least once every four years, a National Veterans Strategy to align government, nonprofit, and private sector resources toward achieving success under the metrics. The strategy must (1) be developed through consultation with the key stakeholders and public input (e.g., hearings, surveys); (2) consider veterans' needs across demographics such as age, geography, sex, race, service period, disability, health, education, and family status; (3) provide evaluation methods using the metrics; (4) direct application of benefits and services for veterans not meeting metrics, including delineation by provider type and sequence, coordination of federal direct services, grants, and commercial services; and (5) include standard outcome metrics that federal agencies and grant recipients must apply consistently and uniformly. This section subjects each strategy to congressional disapproval via joint resolution within 60 days of submission, with expedited procedures in the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs.