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Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 3, 2025
Lead by Example Act of 2025
This bill provides that, beginning January 3, 2027, the only health care plan the federal government may make available to Members of Congress and congressional staff shall be health care provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
By September 15, 2025, the VA and the Office of Personnel Management shall jointly submit to Congress a plan to carry out this bill, including recommendations for any necessary legislative actions.
People & committees
Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8] · R–OH
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Mar 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.149 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.149 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-01-03 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
The proposed Lead by Example Act of 2025 would make Department of Veterans Affairs health care the only health plan the federal government could offer members of Congress and covered congressional employees because of their congressional service, starting January 3, 2027. They would receive care as if they were veterans, including through authorized facilities outside the department. The bill would also require a joint implementation plan.
This Act may be cited as the Lead by Example Act of 2025.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning January 3, 2027, the only health care plan that the Federal Government may make available to Members of Congress and Congressional staff with respect to their service as a Member of Congress or Congressional staff shall be health care provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs, including at facilities of the Department and non-Department facilities pursuant to chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, and any other provision of law authorizing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish such care to veterans, as if such Members and staff were veterans.
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall jointly submit to Congress a plan to carry out subsection (a)
Beginning January 3, 2027, the proposal would override conflicting laws and restrict which health plan the federal government may offer for congressional service. Its restriction is expressly tied to that service.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning January 3, 2027, the only health care plan that the Federal Government may make available to Members of Congress and Congressional staff with respect to their service as a Member of Congress or Congressional staff shall be health care provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs
Care could be furnished at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities and at outside facilities under the cited laws authorizing veterans' care. Covered members and staff would be treated as veterans for this care; the text does not grant unrestricted access to any outside provider.
including at facilities of the Department and non-Department facilities pursuant to chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, and any other provision of law authorizing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish such care to veterans, as if such Members and staff were veterans.
The term non-Department facility has the meaning given that term in section 1701 of title 38, United States Code.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the director of the Office of Personnel Management, the federal personnel agency, would have to submit a joint implementation plan to Congress by September 15, 2025. The plan would include recommendations for any additional legislation they determine is necessary.
Not later than September 15, 2025, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall jointly submit to Congress a plan to carry out subsection (a), including recommendations for any legislative actions the Secretary and the Director determine necessary to carry out such subsection.
The proposal would cover senators, House members, House delegates, and Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner.
The term Member of Congress means a Member of the Senate or the House of Representatives, a Delegate to the House of Representatives, and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.
Covered congressional staff would be the employees described in section 2107(1) of title 5 of the United States Code. The bill uses that existing statutory definition rather than listing the covered employee categories.
The term Congressional staff means the employees described in section 2107(1) of title 5, United States Code.
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated March 7, 2025, records introduction in the House and referral to the House Administration and Veterans' Affairs committees on January 3, 2025, followed by referral to the Subcommittee on Health on February 6, 2025.
Source snapshot updated 2025-03-07T16:08:22Z. 2025-02-06: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. 2025-01-03: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-01-03: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-01-03. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy change attached to appropriations was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for particular recipients or places was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version; accompanying materials needed to assess formal earmark status are absent.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Findings to examine
The text provides a narrow group with special eligibility treatment as part of its central health-plan restriction. This classification does not establish a net advantage or improper purpose.
Members of Congress and covered congressional staff would receive Department of Veterans Affairs care as if they were veterans. This is special eligibility treatment for a narrowly defined employment group, directly tied to making that care the only health plan the federal government may offer for their congressional service.
the only health care plan that the Federal Government may make available to Members of Congress and Congressional staff with respect to their service as a Member of Congress or Congressional staff shall be health care provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs, including at facilities of the Department and non-Department facilities pursuant to chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, and any other provision of law authorizing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish such care to veterans, as if such Members and staff were veterans.
The term Congressional staff means the employees described in section 2107(1) of title 5, United States Code.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Mar 7, 2025. How PlainBill uses AI