SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025

Senate Bill

S. 668

119th Congress

SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 20, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Angus King

I - ME

Cosponsors

2

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Summary

This bill creates an Office of Falls Prevention within the Veterans Health Administration to address falls among veterans through education, assessment, and prevention services. It adds the VA to the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging, updates patient handling policies, and requires falls risk assessments for certain veterans.

Latest Action

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill creates an Office of Falls Prevention within the Veterans Health Administration to address falls among veterans through education, assessment, and prevention services. It adds the VA to the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging, updates patient handling policies, and requires falls risk assessments for certain veterans.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Supporting Access to Falls Education and Prevention and Strengthening Training Efforts and Promoting Safety Initiatives for Veterans Act of 2025 or the SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025This bill addresses certain mobility and aging care and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).First, the bill requires the establishment and operation of the Office of Falls Prevention within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for purposes of providing, evaluating, and improving VA health care services related to falls prevention.Among other duties, the office must oversee and support a national education campaign for veterans, their families, and health care providers that focuses on reducing falls and increases awareness of available benefits or services provided by the VA to reduce falls.The bill also expands membership of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities by including the VA.The VA must issue or update directives of the VHA for facilities and providers relating to safe patient handling and mobility policies.Additionally, the VA must determine the feasibility and advisability of implementing a pilot program to provide home improvements and structural alterations to prevent falls for veterans who are eligible for such services under VA laws.Finally, the bill requires the VA to ensure certain veterans receive a falls risk assessment from a licensed physical therapist or occupational therapist.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Establishes Office of Falls Prevention within VA
Launches national education campaign on falls prevention for veterans
Adds VA to Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging
Requires falls risk assessments by physical or occupational therapists
Explores pilot program for home modifications to prevent falls

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Aging veterans would receive improved falls prevention care, including risk assessments and education. The VA would develop better coordination with other agencies on aging issues, and eligible veterans could potentially receive home modifications to reduce fall risks.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Subjects

Aging

Congressional oversight

Department of Veterans Affairs

Executive agency funding and structure

Health personnel

Health promotion and preventive care

Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care

Medical research

Veterans' medical care

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

668, 119th Congress (2025). "SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-668