WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 1041 · 119th Congress

Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act

Passed HouseArmed Forces and National Security
IntroducedFeb 6, 2025
Passed HouseMay 21, 2026
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Passed House. Latest step, Jun 2, 2026: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The House passed it 216–201. It would change 1 section of existing law and would add 2 new provisions of its own.

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 1041 would change 1 section of existing law, and would create 2 new provisions of its own. Read from the bill text as sent to the Senate (Jun 2, 2026).

38 U.S.C. 5501A Beneficiaries' rights in mental competence determinations

New provisions of the bill's own

  • Sec. 3 Notification of lack of basis for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to have transmitted certain information to the Department of Justice for use by the national instant criminal background check system
  • Sec. 4 Determination by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that a person is mentally incompetent is insufficient to treat such person as a mental defective
What the words would change: every change, in place (1)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. 38 U.S.C. 5501Aadded 5501Bby H.R. 1041 Sec. 2(a)

    5501B. Prohibition on transmittal of certain information to the Department of Justice for use by the national instant criminal background check system.— The Secretary may not transmit to any entity in the Department of Justice, for use by the national instant criminal background check system established under section 103 of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (34 U.S.C. 40901; Public Law 103–159; 107 Stat. 1541), personally identifiable information of a beneficiary, solely on the basis of a determination by the Secretary to pay benefits to a fiduciary for the use and benefit of the beneficiary under section 5502 of this title, without the order or finding of a judge, magistrate, or other judicial authority of competent jurisdiction that such beneficiary is a danger to themselves or others.

    The bill says: Chapter 55 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5501A the following new section:

    Bill text · Current law (38 U.S.C. 5501A)

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act

This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from transmitting certain information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) utilized by licensed importers or dealers of firearms.

Specifically, the bill prohibits the VA from transmitting personally identifying information of a veteran or a beneficiary to the NICS solely on the basis that such veteran or beneficiary has an appointed fiduciary to manage their benefits, unless there is an order or finding of a judicial authority that such veteran or beneficiary is a danger to themselves or others.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Feb 6, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

Sourced
  1. May 21, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 216 - 201 (Roll no. 190). (text: CR H3684-3685) Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
  2. Jun 5, 2025Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-143.Library of Congress
  3. Feb 6, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Show all 23 recorded actions

Recorded votes

Sourced
  1. May 21, 2026 · HousePassed 216–201
    On Passage · needed a majority
    R 208 yes, 1 noI 1 yes, 0 noD 7 yes, 200 noEach member · Record
1 other recorded vote (procedure and amendments)
  1. May 21, 2026 · HouseFailed 208–210
    On Motion to Recommit · needed a majority
    R 0 yes, 209 noI 0 yes, 1 noD 208 yes, 0 noEach member · Record

Cosponsors

  • Mark Alford R-MO-4
  • Mark E. Amodei R-NV-2
  • Brian Babin R-TX-36
  • Don Bacon R-NE-2
  • James R. Baird R-IN-4
  • Andy Barr R-KY-6
  • Tom Barrett R-MI-7
  • Jack Bergman R-MI-1
  • Sheri Biggs R-SC-3
  • Gus M. Bilirakis R-FL-12
  • Kat Cammack R-FL-3
  • Ben Cline R-VA-6
Show 58 more cosponsors
  • Mike Collins R-GA-10
  • James Comer R-KY-1
  • Jeff Crank R-CO-5
  • Dan Crenshaw R-TX-2
  • Monica De La Cruz R-TX-15
  • Troy Downing R-MT-2
  • Chuck Edwards R-NC-11
  • Mike Ezell R-MS-4
  • Randy Feenstra R-IA-4
  • Brad Finstad R-MN-1
  • Michelle Fischbach R-MN-7
  • Russ Fulcher R-ID-1
  • Brandon Gill R-TX-26
  • Sam Graves R-MO-6
  • Glenn Grothman R-WI-6
  • Brett Guthrie R-KY-2
  • Harriet M. Hageman R-WY-At Large
  • Abraham J. Hamadeh R-AZ-8
  • Mark Harris R-NC-8
  • Andy Harris R-MD-1
  • Clay Higgins R-LA-3
  • Ashley Hinson R-IA-2
  • Erin Houchin R-IN-9
  • Richard Hudson R-NC-9
  • Bill Huizenga R-MI-4
  • Jeff Hurd R-CO-3
  • Ronny Jackson R-TX-13
  • Mike Kelly R-PA-16
  • Darin LaHood R-IL-16
  • Nicholas A. Langworthy R-NY-23
  • Morgan Luttrell R-TX-8
  • Nancy Mace R-SC-1
  • Addison P. McDowell R-NC-6
  • Mark B. Messmer R-IN-8
  • Daniel Meuser R-PA-9
  • Mariannette Miller-Meeks R-IA-1
  • John R. Moolenaar R-MI-2
  • Tim Moore R-NC-14
  • Barry Moore R-AL-1
  • Gregory F. Murphy R-NC-3
  • Dan Newhouse R-WA-4
  • Jay Obernolte R-CA-23
  • Burgess Owens R-UT-4
  • Harold Rogers R-KY-5
  • Chip Roy R-TX-21
  • Michael A. Rulli R-OH-6
  • John H. Rutherford R-FL-5
  • Keith Self R-TX-3
  • Adrian Smith R-NE-3
  • Pete Stauber R-MN-8
  • Elise M. Stefanik R-NY-21
  • W. Gregory Steube R-FL-17
  • David J. Taylor R-OH-2
  • Claudia Tenney R-NY-24
  • Derrick Van Orden R-WI-3
  • Daniel Webster R-FL-11
  • Rudy Yakym III R-IN-2
  • Ryan K. Zinke R-MT-1