WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

S. 423 · 119th Congress · Public Law 119-33

PRO Veterans Act of 2025

Became lawArmed Forces and National Security
IntroducedFeb 5, 2025
Passed SenateApr 8, 2025
Passed HouseJul 21, 2025
To PresidentAug 12, 2025
Became lawAug 14, 2025

How this bill changes the law

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S. 423 changed 1 section of existing law, and created 1 new provision of its own. Read from the bill text in its final form, as sent to the President.

38 U.S.C. 706 Additional authority relating to recruitment and retention of personnel

  • (d) Incentives for Critical Skills.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this… added to · Sec. 1(c) · see the words

New provisions of the bill's own

  • Sec. 2 Establishment of veterans experience office
What the words changed: every change, in place (1)

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

  1. 38 U.S.C. 706(d)added (7)by S. 423 Sec. 1(c)

    (7)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B)(ii), a critical skill incentive may not be provided under paragraph (1) to an employee of the Department employed in a Senior Executive Service position, or a position in another comparable system for senior-level Government employees, as defined by the Secretary, whose position is at the Central Office of the Department, including the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration, regardless of the actual location where the employee performs the functions of the position.(B)(i) A critical skill incentive provided under paragraph (1) to an employee of the Department employed in a Senior Executive Service position, or a position in another comparable system for senior-level Government employees, as defined by the Secretary, not described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph may only be provided—(I) on an individual basis and may not be provided to a group of such employees; and(II) upon approval of the following officers or those serving in an acting capacity:(aa) The Under Secretary for Benefits, the Under Secretary for Health, or the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs.(bb) The Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration.(cc) The Director of the Office of Management or the Chief Financial Officer.(dd) The Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection.(ee) The General Counsel.(ff) Such other officers as the Secretary determines appropriate.(ii) In the case of an employee of the Department employed in a Senior Executive Service position, or a position in another comparable system for senior-level Government employees, as defined by the Secretary, whose position is primarily at the Central Office of the Department, but who performs some portion of the employee’s job function at other facilities of the Department, as defined by the Secretary, not at Central Office—(I) the employee shall not be considered described in subparagraph (A) with respect to the portion of the employee’s job function that is based out of non-Central Office facilities of the Department; and(II) any critical skill incentive provided under paragraph (1) to the employee for the portion of the employee’s job function that is based out of facilities of the Department other than the Central Office shall be proportionate to the time spent at those Department facilities.(C)(i) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the Protecting Regular Order for Veterans Act of 2025, and not less frequently than once each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives an annual report on the employees of the Department employed in a Senior Executive Service position, or a position in another comparable system for senior-level Government employees, as defined by the Secretary, who were provided a critical skill incentive under paragraph (1).(ii) Reports submitted pursuant to clause (i) may be submitted by incorporating their contents into other congressionally mandated reports to the committees described in such clause.(D) In this paragraph, the term Senior Executive Service position has the meaning given such term in section 3132(a) of title 5.

    The bill says: Section 706(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

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

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This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide quarterly budget briefings to Congress, prohibits the VA from providing specified pay incentives to senior-level employees, and establishes an office to carry out customer service initiatives of the VA.

Protecting Regular Order for Veterans Act of 2025 or the PRO Veterans Act of 2025

(Sec. 1) This section requires the VA to provide quarterly budget briefings to Congress, which must include information on any budget shortfalls the VA may be experiencing. The VA must present its plans to address or mitigate shortfalls during such briefings.

Next, the section prohibits the VA from providing certain senior-level employees with a critical skill incentive, which is generally a payment bonus for employees possessing a high-demand skill or skill that is at a shortage. Specifically, the VA may not provide such an incentive to an employee in a Senior Executive Service position or other comparable position in the VA Central Office, regardless of the actual location where the employee performs the functions of the position. Senior-level employees whose positions are primarily in the VA Central Office but perform some portion of their job function based out of non-Central Office VA facilities are eligible for an incentive for their non-Central Office work.

The section also provides that an incentive may only be provided to senior-level employees on an individual basis and upon approval by specified officers (e.g., the Under Secretary for Health).

The VA must report to Congress annually regarding senior-level employees who were provided a critical skill incentive.

Improving Veterans’ Experience Act of 2025

(Sec. 2) This section establishes the Veterans Experience Office through FY2028 to carry out the key customer experience initiatives of the VA relating to veteran and beneficiary satisfaction with and usage of VA benefits and services.

The Government Accountability Office must complete an analysis of and report on the methodology, effectiveness, and implementation of findings and feedback of veterans and beneficiaries used by the VA, including the Veterans Experience Office, to improve customer experience and satisfaction.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Aug 14, 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

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  1. 2025-08-14Became Public Law No: 119-33.Library of Congress
  2. 2025-08-14Signed by President.Library of Congress
  3. 2025-08-12Presented to President.Library of Congress
  4. 2025-07-21Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3484-3485)Library of Congress
  5. 2025-04-08Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.Library of Congress
  6. 2025-02-05Introduced in SenateLibrary of Congress

Show all 22 recorded actions

After it became law

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Nothing in the Federal Register names Public Law 119-33 yet (checked Oct 27, 2026). Many laws need no new rules: they set penalties, name a building, or fund something directly.

Cosponsors

  • Marsha Blackburn R-TN
  • Ted Budd R-NC
  • Bill Cassidy R-LA
  • Steve Daines R-MT
  • Joni Ernst R-IA
  • Chuck Grassley R-IA
  • Roger Marshall R-KS
  • Lisa Murkowski R-AK
  • Pete Ricketts R-NE
  • Rick Scott R-FL
  • Thom Tillis R-NC
  • Tommy Tuberville R-AL
  • Roger F. Wicker R-MS