NACVSO 2026 Legislative Update
The 119th Congress is now past its midpoint, but there is still much to accomplish. Like the work of a GVSO, the work of your legislative and policy team is never finished.
In the second half of the 119th session, NACVSO’s leadership and legislative team have been very active. On March 3rd, President Andrew Tangen testified before a joint session of the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs. NACVSO members may be growing accustomed to having a seat at this table, but it was only a few years ago that we did not have a voice there.
President Tangen’s testimony was developed collaboratively with NACVSO’s legislative team, including members of the Executive Board. It focused on improving the transition from military to civilian life. Specifically, the message emphasized that transition does not end with TAP—it continues for life. Many of the gaps veterans experience stem from a lack of continuity across the veteran services space. GVSOs are uniquely positioned to provide that continuity, if Congress and VA fully support and engage the GVSO model.
This message is beginning to gain traction in Washington and within VA. That growing awareness was evident during an April 30th Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, when Secretary Doug Collins raised the question of the value of outreach from county and tribal veterans service officers. His response: it could be a matter of life or death. That statement reflects what we have long known: the work of GVSOs is vital.
NACVSO’s legislative team will continue to look for opportunities to strengthen support for that work.
The 6th Annual Leadership Summit, held in Washington, D.C., this past March, remains one of the most effective ways to advance that effort. This year’s summit brought together NACVSO leaders, delegates, and state presidents from across the country to engage Congressional leaders and VA officials and reinforce NACVSO’s legislative and policy priorities.
One of those priorities has been securing federal funding support for GVSO offices. After nearly 20 years of advocacy, Congress passed the CVSO Act on January 2, 2025, as part of the Dole Act. While this was a major milestone, the work is not finished.
The next step is full funding, implementation, and extension of the Act. The CVSO Act authorizes $10 million in grant funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. However, due to the rulemaking and implementation process, grants are not expected to be available for application until FY 2027. At the same time, Congress has yet to fully fund the authorized amount.
Our partners at VA are supporting this effort by including a $10 million request in their FY 2027 budget submission. NACVSO members can help by engaging with their congressional offices and emphasizing the importance of fully funding the CVSO Act.
NACVSO leadership, alongside our partners at NASDVA, is also working to extend the CVSO Act for at least three additional years. This extension is critical to properly assess the impact of federal investment in GVSO offices and veteran service delivery.
In the meantime, this is the opportunity for us to continue providing world-class advocacy to every one of our veterans, demonstrating that NACVSO members are the gold-standard of service to those who served.
NACVSO’s strength has always been its membership. Your voice brought us to this point, and it will carry us forward. If you have a legislative idea or a bill you believe NACVSO should support, we encourage you to speak up and engage.
Your input drives NACVSO’s work. As author Ken Blanchard said, “None of us is as smart as all of us.”
Semper Fi,
Michael McLaughlin
1st Vice and Legislative Director, NACVSO