SERVE Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8421 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8421

To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend to former members of the Armed Forces, discharged on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, certain benefits furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 21, 2026

Mr. Pappas (for himself, Mr. Levin, Ms. Jacobs, and Ms. Dexter) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend to former members of the Armed Forces, discharged on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, certain benefits furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 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 ``Securing the Rights our Veterans Earned Act'' or the ``SERVE Act''.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION TO FORMER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES, DISCHARGED ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY, OF CERTAIN BENEFITS FURNISHED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

(a) Hospital Care and Medical Services.--Section 1710(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ``any veteran''; (2) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``any veteran'' before ``who has''; (3) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``any veteran'' before ``whose''; (4) in subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E), by inserting ``any veteran'' before ``who is''; (5) in subparagraph (F)-- (A) by inserting ``any veteran'' before ``who is''; and (B) by striking ``; or'' and inserting a semicolon; (6) in subparagraph (G)-- (A) by inserting ``any veteran'' before ``who is''; and (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and (7) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(H) a former member of the Armed Forces who, by reason of sexual orientation or gender identity (including a diagnosis of gender dysphoria), received-- ``(i) an entry-level separation; ``(ii) a discharge under honorable conditions; or ``(iii) a discharge under conditions other than honorable.''. (b) Vet Center Readjustment Counseling and Related Mental Health Services.--Section 1712A of such title is amended-- (1) by striking ``clauses (i) through (vii)'' both places it appears and inserting ``clauses (i) through (viii)''; (2) by striking ``in clause (viii)'' both places it appears and inserting ``in clause (ix)''; and (3) in subsection (a)(1)(C)-- (A) by redesignating clause (viii) as clause (ix); and (B) by inserting after clause (vii) the following new clause (viii): ``(viii) An individual described in section 1710(a)(2)(H) of this title.''. (c) Interment in National Cemeteries.--Section 2402(a) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(11) An individual described in section 1710(a)(2)(H) of this title.''. (d) Post-9/11 Educational Assistance.--Section 3311(b) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(12) An individual described in section 1710(a)(2)(H) of this title.''. (e) Housing Loans.--Section 3702(a)(2) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(H) Each individual described in section 1710(a)(2)(H) of this title.''. (f) Outreach.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct outreach to notify individuals described in section 1710(a)(2)(H) of such title, as added by subsection (a), and entities including veterans service organizations and military service organizations, of benefits available to such individuals under the amendments made by this section. (g) Report.--Not later than 15 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on benefits provided individuals pursuant to amendments made by this Act during the year after such date. Such report shall include the number of such individuals who received such benefits, disaggregated by demographic categories. <all>