POW Priority Care Act of 2025

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 5539 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5539 To amend title 38, United States Code, to assign the highest priority status for hospital care and medical services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans who are former prisoners of war. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 19, 2025 Mr. Walberg (for himself, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, and Mr. Gottheimer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to assign the highest priority status for hospital care and medical services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans who are former prisoners of war. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``POW Priority Care Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. HIGHEST PRIORITY STATUS FOR ENROLLMENT OF FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR IN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. (a) Enrollment.--Section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in paragraph (1)-- (A) by striking ``and veterans'' and inserting ``, veterans''; and (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``, and veterans who are former prisoners of war.''; and (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``who are former prisoners of war or''. (b) Extended Care Services.--Section 1710B(c)(2)(D) of such title is amended by inserting ``a veteran who is a former prisoner of war or'' before ``a veteran who''. (c) Applicability.--The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to veterans who are former prisoners of war before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act. <all>