WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 210 · 119th Congress

Dental Care for Veterans Act

IntroducedArmed Forces and National Security
IntroducedJan 6, 2025
Passed HouseNot yet
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Introduced. Latest step, May 20, 2026: Committee Hearings Held It would change 1 section of existing law.

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 210 would change 1 section of existing law. Read from the bill text as introduced in the House (Jan 6, 2025).

38 U.S.C. 1525 Protection of health-care eligibility

  • (a) In the case of a veteran whose entitlement to pension is terminated after… changed · Sec. 2(b) · see the words
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. 1525(a)changedby H.R. 210 Sec. 2(b)

    (a) In the case of a veteran whose entitlement to pension is terminated after January 31, 1985, by reason of income from work or training, the veteran shall retain for a period of three years beginning on the date of such termination all eligibility for care and services under such chapter that the veteran would have had if the veteran's entitlement to pension had not been terminated. Care and services for which such a veteran retains eligibility include, when applicable, drugs and medicines under section 1712(d)medicines under section 1712(b) of this title.

    The bill says: Section 1525(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking "medicines under section 1712(d)" and inserting "medicines under section 1712(b)".

    Bill text · Current law (38 U.S.C. 1525)

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

Dental Care for Veterans Act

This bill expands eligibility for veterans for dental care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Specifically, the bill makes all veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system eligible for VA-provided dental services. Currently, only veterans who have a service-connected dental issue or meet other narrow criteria are eligible for certain dental services.

The bill phases in eligibility over four years based upon existing eligibility, degree of service-connected disability or other disability, prisoner of war status, award of a Purple Heart, financial need, or VA health care eligibility.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Jan 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. Jan 6, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Show all 7 recorded actions

Cosponsors

  • Alma S. Adams D-NC-12
  • Gabe Amo D-RI-1
  • Nanette Diaz Barragán D-CA-44
  • Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. D-GA-2
  • Suzanne Bonamici D-OR-1
  • Nikki Budzinski D-IL-13
  • Janelle S. Bynum D-OR-5
  • Salud O. Carbajal D-CA-24
  • André Carson D-IN-7
  • Greg Casar D-TX-35
  • Sean Casten D-IL-6
  • Joaquin Castro D-TX-20
Show 102 more cosponsors
  • Judy Chu D-CA-28
  • Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. D-CA-31
  • Yvette D. Clarke D-NY-9
  • Emanuel Cleaver D-MO-5
  • Steve Cohen D-TN-9
  • Herbert C. Conaway, Jr. D-NJ-3
  • J. Luis Correa D-CA-46
  • Sharice Davids D-KS-3
  • Danny K. Davis D-IL-7
  • Madeleine Dean D-PA-4
  • Diana DeGette D-CO-1
  • Suzan K. DelBene D-WA-1
  • Christopher R. Deluzio D-PA-17
  • Mark DeSaulnier D-CA-10
  • Maxine Dexter D-OR-3
  • Debbie Dingell D-MI-6
  • Bill Foster D-IL-11
  • Lois Frankel D-FL-22
  • Laura Friedman D-CA-30
  • Sylvia R. Garcia D-TX-29
  • Jesús G. "Chuy" García D-IL-4
  • Vicente Gonzalez D-TX-34
  • Maggie Goodlander D-NH-2
  • Josh Gottheimer D-NJ-5
  • Adelita S. Grijalva D-AZ-7
  • Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva D-AZ-7
  • Josh Harder D-CA-9
  • Jahana Hayes D-CT-5
  • Steven Horsford D-NV-4
  • Val T. Hoyle D-OR-4
  • Jonathan L. Jackson D-IL-1
  • Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. D-GA-4
  • Marcy Kaptur D-OH-9
  • William R. Keating D-MA-9
  • Robin L. Kelly D-IL-2
  • Timothy M. Kennedy D-NY-26
  • Ro Khanna D-CA-17
  • Raja Krishnamoorthi D-IL-8
  • Greg Landsman D-OH-1
  • Rick Larsen D-WA-2
  • John B. Larson D-CT-1
  • Michael Lawler R-NY-17
  • Mike Levin D-CA-49
  • Ted Lieu D-CA-36
  • Zoe Lofgren D-CA-18
  • Stephen F. Lynch D-MA-8
  • Sarah McBride D-DE-At Large
  • April McClain Delaney D-MD-6
  • Morgan McGarvey D-KY-3
  • James P. McGovern D-MA-2
  • LaMonica McIver D-NJ-10
  • Analilia Mejia D-NJ-11
  • Robert Menendez D-NJ-8
  • Grace Meng D-NY-6
  • Dave Min D-CA-47
  • Gwen Moore D-WI-4
  • Joseph D. Morelle D-NY-25
  • Seth Moulton D-MA-6
  • James C. Moylan R-GU-At Large
  • Joe Neguse D-CO-2
  • Donald Norcross D-NJ-1
  • Eleanor Holmes Norton D-DC-At Large
  • Johnny Olszewski, Jr. D-MD-2
  • Jimmy Panetta D-CA-19
  • Chris Pappas D-NH-1
  • Brittany Pettersen D-CO-7
  • Mark Pocan D-WI-2
  • Mike Quigley D-IL-5
  • Delia C. Ramirez D-IL-3
  • Josh Riley D-NY-19
  • Deborah K. Ross D-NC-2
  • Patrick Ryan D-NY-18
  • Andrea Salinas D-OR-6
  • Mary Gay Scanlon D-PA-5
  • Janice D. Schakowsky D-IL-9
  • Bradley Scott Schneider D-IL-10
  • Hillary J. Scholten D-MI-3
  • Kim Schrier D-WA-8
  • Terri A. Sewell D-AL-7
  • Brad Sherman D-CA-32
  • Lateefah Simon D-CA-12
  • Eric Sorensen D-IL-17
  • Darren Soto D-FL-9
  • Melanie A. Stansbury D-NM-1
  • Greg Stanton D-AZ-4
  • Marilyn Strickland D-WA-10
  • Thomas R. Suozzi D-NY-3
  • Shri Thanedar D-MI-13
  • Mike Thompson D-CA-4
  • Dina Titus D-NV-1
  • Rashida Tlaib D-MI-12
  • Jill N. Tokuda D-HI-2
  • Paul Tonko D-NY-20
  • Norma J. Torres D-CA-35
  • Lori Trahan D-MA-3
  • Rep. Sylvester Turner D-TX-18
  • Lauren Underwood D-IL-14
  • Jefferson Van Drew R-NJ-2
  • Gabe Vasquez D-NM-2
  • Eugene Simon Vindman D-VA-7
  • Maxine Waters D-CA-43
  • Frederica S. Wilson D-FL-24