{"bill":{"id":"117-hr-5516","congress":117,"type":"HR","number":5516,"title":"VITAL Assessment Act","originChamber":"House","introducedDate":"2021-10-08","sponsors":[{"bioguideId":"E000071","fullName":"Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6]","party":"R","state":"TX","district":6}],"cosponsorsCount":3,"latestAction":{"actionDate":"2021-11-17","text":"Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs."},"policyArea":"Armed Forces and National Security","subjects":["Congressional oversight","Health promotion and preventive care","Higher education","Mental health","Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation","Veterans' medical care","Veterans' organizations and recognition"],"actions":[{"date":"2021-11-17","text":"Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"Senate","hasVote":false},{"date":"2021-11-16","text":"Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2021-11-16","text":"On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6279)","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2021-11-16","text":"Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6279)","type":"Floor","chamber":"Library of Congress","hasVote":false},{"date":"2021-11-16","text":"DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5516.","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2021-11-16","text":"Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6279-6280)","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2021-11-16","text":"Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2021-11-04","text":"Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.","type":"Committee","chamber":"House committee actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2021-11-04","text":"Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.","type":"Committee","chamber":"House committee actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2021-11-04","text":"Subcommittee on Health Discharged.","type":"Committee","chamber":"House committee actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2021-10-14","text":"Subcommittee Hearings Held.","type":"Committee","chamber":"House committee actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2021-10-13","text":"Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.","type":"Committee","chamber":"House committee actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2021-10-08","text":"Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2021-10-08","text":"Introduced in House","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"Library of Congress","hasVote":false},{"date":"2021-10-08","text":"Introduced in House","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"Library of Congress","hasVote":false}],"summary":" <p><strong>VITAL Assessment Act</strong></p> <p>This bill implements changes related to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership (VITAL) program, which focuses on enhancing student veterans' academic success and retention by assisting with things like mental and physical health.</p> <p>The VA must report on the program and establish best practices, goals, and measures for the program that are uniform among the VA's medical centers.</p> <p>The bill also requires the VA to conduct outreach among the Armed Forces, veterans service organizations, institutions of higher learning, and noncollege degree programs regarding the VITAL program.</p> <p>Additionally, the VA must assess the feasibility and advisability of including the suicide rate for student veterans in the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report.</p>","updateDate":"2025-05-28T14:37:24Z"},"markets":[],"stateBills":[],"meta":{"sources":["congress.gov"],"latencyMs":5794,"ts":"2026-04-15T07:36:11.397Z"},"nextActions":{"inspect":[],"related":[{"description":"Search related legislation","method":"GET","url":"/api/public/query-gov?q=VITAL%20Assessment%20Act"}]}}