John Rose

Veterans' Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers Act of 2025 or the Veterans' ACCESS Act of 2025

This bill addresses the administration of the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) and other Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care matters.

Among other provisions regarding the VCCP, the bill

• establishes in statute access standards that determine when a veteran is eligible to receive non-VA care through the VCCP,

• requires the VA to notify veterans regarding their eligibility for care within two business days after the VA is aware the veteran is seeking care, and

• extends the deadline for the submittal of claims under the VCCP by health care entities and providers.

The VA must address its mental health treatment programs by

• establishing a standardized screening process to determine whether a veteran satisfies criteria for priority or routine admission to a mental health residential rehabilitation treatment program or a program for residential care for mental health and substance abuse disorders,

• tracking the performance of medical facilities and Veterans Integrated Service Networks in meeting the requirements for mental health treatment screenings and timely admission to treatment programs under such screenings, and

• establishing an appeal process for when a veteran is denied admission to a covered treatment program or is accepted into a program but not offered bed placement in a timely manner.

Additionally, the VA must establish an online self-service module for veterans to request and manage appointments, track referrals, and appeal and track decisions related to requests for care.

Data Broadband Reporting and Integration for Deployment in Geographically Essential Areas Act or the Data BRIDGE Act

This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to update the National Broadband Map to include data on the location of agricultural areas as a layer of the map and to maintain this data in the map moving forward. (The map depicts the availability of broadband internet service across the United States.)

In incorporating this data, the FCC must consult with (1) the Department of Agriculture, including with respect to existing data on the location of agricultural areas; and (2) with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, states, and other relevant stakeholders.

Title IX Clarification Act of 2026

This bill defines the terms sex, female, and male for purposes of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs that receive federal financial assistance.

Specifically, the bill defines sex as an individual’s biologically determined sex, as either male or female. Therefore, Title IX's prohibition on sex discrimination only applies to biological sex under the bill.

The bill defines female, when used with respect to a natural person, as an individual who naturally has, had, will have, or would have, but for a congenital anomaly, historical accident, or intentional or unintentional disruption, the reproductive system that at some point produces, transports, and utilizes the large gamete (ova) for fertilization.

The bill defines male, when used with respect to a natural person, as an individual who naturally has, had, will have, or would have, but for a congenital anomaly, historical accident, or intentional or unintentional disruption, the reproductive system that at some point produces, transports, and utilizes the small gamete (sperm) for fertilization.

(A January 20, 2025, executive order stated that it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes—male and female—which are not changeable. On February 4, 2025, the Department of Education announced its intent to enforce its Title IX regulations consistent with this executive order. For more information on the status of these regulations, see LBS11279.)

Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025

This bill establishes freedom of association protections for college students in single-sex social organizations.

Specifically, the bill gives students (or groups of students) enrolled at institutions of higher education (IHEs) the right to form or join social organizations, including single-sex social organizations.

Additionally, the bill prohibits IHEs that participate in federal student aid programs from

• taking adverse actions against single-sex social organizations or students who are members or prospective members of such organizations based solely on the practice of limiting membership to only individuals of one sex;

• taking actions that require or coerce members or prospective members of such organizations to waive protections provided under the bill, including as a condition of enrolling in the IHE; or

• imposing a recruitment restriction on a single-sex social organization that is not imposed upon other student organizations, unless the organization and IHE have entered into a written agreement allowing the restriction.

Small Lenders Exempt from New Data and Excessive Reporting Act or the Small LENDER Act

This bill modifies the requirements for financial institutions to report certain information about small business credit applications to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and extends the timeline for compliance with the CFPB rule with respect to such reporting (i.e., Section 1071 final rule). (For background about the CFPB rule and subsequent litigation see CRS Report R47788.)

Under the bill, the reporting requirements apply only to financial institutions that originate at least 500 credit transactions to small businesses in each of the preceding two years. The bill further defines small businesses as those with gross annual revenue of $1 million or less.

The rule currently establishes a phase-in period that ultimately requires institutions that originate over 100 credit transactions to small businesses to comply with the reporting requirements. The rule also defines small businesses as those with gross annual revenue of $5 million or less.

Further, beginning on the date the final CFPB rule was issued (May 31, 2023), the bill provides three years for applicable financial institutions to comply with the rule followed by a two-year safe harbor period during which such institutions are not subject to any penalties for failure to comply with the rule.

This resolution supports the designation of National Agriculture Day.