The PRO Veterans Act requires the VA to provide quarterly budget briefings to Congress including any shortfall information and mitigation plans. It prohibits critical skill incentive bonuses for senior executives at VA central office, with limited exceptions requiring high-level approval. Annual reporting tracks which senior employees receive such incentives.
Latest Action
Became Public Law No: 119-33.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
The PRO Veterans Act requires the VA to provide quarterly budget briefings to Congress including any shortfall information and mitigation plans. It prohibits critical skill incentive bonuses for senior executives at VA central office, with limited exceptions requiring high-level approval. Annual reporting tracks which senior employees receive such incentives.
Last updated: 12/30/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Protecting Regular Order for Veterans Act of 2025 or the PRO Veterans Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide quarterly budget briefings to Congress and prohibits the VA from providing specified pay incentives to senior level employees.</p><p>First, the bill requires 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.</p><p>Next, the bill 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 at the central office of the VA (e.g., the Veterans Health Administration), regardless of the actual location where the employee performs the functions of the position.</p><p>The bill also provides that an incentive may be provided to senior-level employees on an individual basis and upon approval by specified officers (e.g., the Under Secretary for Health). Additionally, senior-level employees whose positions are primarily at the central office of the VA but perform some portion of the job function at other VA facilities are exempt from the prohibition.</p><p>The VA must report to Congress annually regarding senior-level employees who were provided a critical skill incentive.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Requires VA quarterly budget briefings to Congress
Must include budget shortfall information
Prohibits most senior executive skill bonuses at central office
Exceptions require Under Secretary approval
Annual reporting on senior employee incentives
Increases VA financial transparency and oversight
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
This bill responds to VA budget management concerns and executive compensation practices. Quarterly briefings ensure Congress has timely visibility into VA financial health, particularly important given the VAs large and complex healthcare system. Restricting senior executive bonuses at headquarters targets administrative positions rather than clinical staff, while exceptions preserve ability to recruit specialized leadership when truly needed.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Armed Forces and National Security
Related Subjects
Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Veterans' pensions and compensation
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
423, 119th Congress (2025). "PRO Veterans Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-423
