S. 926

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program to furnish to certain veterans items used for the secure storage of firearms, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · March 11 (legislative day, March 10), 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. King · Committee: Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Table of contents

• S. 926
  • 1720M. Program to furnish to eligible individuals items intended to be used for the secure storage of firearms.

1720M. Program to furnish to eligible individuals items intended to be used for the secure storage of firearms.

• (a) In general
  • The Secretary shall carry out a program to provide to an eligible individual, upon the request of the eligible individual—
    • a covered item or a redeemable voucher to aid in the distribution of a covered item; and
    • information relating to the benefits of, and options for, secure firearm storage.
• (b) Distribution of covered items
  • In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary is authorized to work with organizations that have experience, expertise, and business knowledge regarding secure firearm storage and secure firearm storage devices.
• (c) Public education campaign
  • (1) In general
    • The Secretary shall design and carry out a public education campaign to inform eligible individuals of the availability of covered items under the program under subsection (a).
  • (2) Partnership
    • In carrying out the public education campaign required under paragraph (1), the Secretary may partner with organizations that have experience with respect to secure firearm storage devices.
  • (3) Assurance about lawful ownership of firearms
    • The Secretary shall include in the public education campaign required under paragraph (1) material that assures eligible individuals that their participation in the program under subsection (a) does not impact lawful ownership of firearms.
• (d) Reports to Congress
  • Not later than October 1, 2025, and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes—
    • a description of the program under subsection (a) in a manner consistent with applicable law;
    • during the period covered by the report, the number of covered items distributed by the Veterans Health Administration and the number of covered items redeemed outside of the Veterans Health Administration under the program;
    • an assessment of efforts made to increase outreach and distribution of covered items under the program to eligible individuals who are not enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department established and operated under section 1705 of this title;
    • an assessment of any obstacles to increasing outreach to eligible individuals who are enrolled in such system and those who are not enrolled in such system; and
    • an identification of additional steps that will be taken during the one-year period after the submission of the report to improve the processes through which eligible individuals receive a covered item under the program.
• (e) Definitions
  • In this section:
    • The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
    • The term covered item means a lockbox that—
    • The term eligible individual means—