HR 7838 — Veteran Artists Healing Act

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html March 05, 2026

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a procurement program for direct purchases of original artwork from veterans enrolled as patients at medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs, modifying existing procurement regulations.

• 41 U.S.C. § 1902

  a purchase with a price not greater than the micro-purchase threshold may be made without obtaining competitive quotations if an employee of an executive agency or a member of the armed forces, authorized to do so, determines that the price for the purchase is reasonable. → and section 15(j) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(j)), as long as the price is determined to be reasonable.

  This modification allows for direct purchases from veteran artists without needing to follow competitive quotation requirements.

• ``Sec. 8130. Direct purchases of original artwork from veterans enrolled as patients

  This addition creates a new section specifically for the procurement of artwork from veteran patients.

• (a) The Secretary shall carry out a procurement program under this section to facilitate the ability of the medical centers of the Department to make direct procurements of original artwork from veterans who are enrolled as patients.

  This establishes the purpose of the new program allowing medical centers to procure artwork directly from enrolled veterans.

• (b) Under the program, the Secretary shall ensure that the head of each medical center-- (1) has the authority to make covered procurements; and (2) in exercising that authority, is not required to obtain the approval of any official at the district, regional, or Veterans Integrated Service Network level, except to the extent such approval is required by law.

  This gives medical center heads the authority to procure artwork directly and reduces bureaucratic oversight requirements.

• (c) As used in this section, a `covered procurement' is a procurement-- (1) under the micro-purchase authority in section 1902 of title 41, United States Code; (2) directly from a veteran who, at the time of the procurement, is a patient enrolled at the medical center and has-- (A) a clinical recommendation for creative arts therapy; or (B) a history of participation in the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival; and (3) of the veteran's own original artwork.

  This defines what constitutes a covered procurement under the new program, specifying the criteria for eligible veterans and their artwork.

• (d) The head of a medical center may exercise the authority under this section only if-- (1) the artwork is non-partisan and clinical in nature, focusing on themes of recovery, nature, and service; and (2) the veteran certifies that the artwork is the veteran's own original artwork.

  This sets restrictions on the type of artwork that can be procured, ensuring it aligns with the themes of recovery and service.

• (e) The head of a medical center may make more than one covered procurement under this section from an individual veteran in a fiscal year but the aggregate amount of such procurements by that medical center from that veteran may not exceed $2,500 per fiscal year.

  This limits the total amount that can be procured from a single veteran to maintain budget control.

• (f) A covered procurement under this section-- (1) shall be made without regard to whether the veteran is registered in the System for Awards Management or certified as a small business concern by the Small Business Administration; (2) shall be treated as a procurement from a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans for purposes of contracting goals and priorities under sections 8127 and 8128 of this title; and (3) shall be made without regard to any requirement in law, regulation, or policy that offers be obtained from multiple sources or that awards be distributed in an equitable manner, such as the requirements in section 1902(e) of title 41, United States Code.

  This provides flexibility in procurement processes, allowing direct purchases without traditional requirements while treating veteran artists favorably under small business contracting goals.

• Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 81 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 8129 the following new item: ``8130. Direct purchases of original artwork from veterans enrolled as patients.''.

  This updates the statutory table of contents to reflect the new section for clarity and organization.

Action History

1. March 05, 2026

   Introduced in House

2. March 05, 2026

   Introduced in House

3. March 05, 2026

   Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Sponsors

• Cory Mills · Primary

Subjects