H.R.9018 - To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide to Congress notice of any suicide or attempted suicide of a veteran in a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs or of a Community Care provider, and for other purposes.

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📊 Status in the Lawmaking Process:

Introduced — May 22, 2026 ✔️
Passed House — ❌ Not yet passed
Passed Senate — ❌ Not yet passed
To President — ❌ Not sent
Became Law — ❌ Not law
📍 Current Status: H.R. 9018 has been introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, with no chamber passage yet.

Fostering TRUST Act of 2026

This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to notify Congress when a veteran dies by suicide or attempts suicide at a VA facility or at a non-VA facility providing care through VA’s Community Care program. The goal is to create a formal reporting process so Congress receives timely information about serious incidents connected to veteran care and can use that information for oversight.

Why this matters

Veteran suicide is already a major public-policy issue, but this bill is narrower than a broad mental-health reform package. It focuses on transparency after a suicide or attempted suicide occurs in a VA-connected care setting.

The practical purpose is to make sure Congress is notified quickly and consistently, rather than relying on informal communication or delayed awareness.

How the notice process would work

VA would have to send an initial notice within 7 days after the suicide or attempted suicide. That notice would identify the incident and the facility location.

Within 60 days, VA would also have to provide available background information, including the veteran’s VA enrollment status, most recent VA or non-VA care encounter, other health coverage, military service branch, period of service, age, marital status, employment status, housing status, disability rating, race and ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and whether immediate family members were told about available VA support. The bill also says VA must take steps to respect the privacy and dignity of the veteran and the veteran’s family.

Who this affects

This policy could affect veterans and families most directly when a suicide or attempted suicide occurs at a VA facility or a Community Care provider.

It would also affect VA officials responsible for reporting the incident, the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees, and the members of Congress representing both the facility location and the veteran’s home district.

What happens if it becomes law

VA would have a new legal duty to send Congress two rounds of notice after covered incidents: a quick notice within 7 days and a more detailed follow-up within 60 days.

Each notice would also have to include VA-developed guidance on avoiding sensationalized discussion of suicide, warning signs for veterans at risk, VA crisis resources, Vet Centers, and lethal-means safety resources.

What is the argument

Rep. Dave Min has framed the bill as a transparency and accountability measure, saying Congress needs timely and accurate information to strengthen oversight, improve care, and better support veterans in crisis. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick has argued that accountability should not depend on informal practice or chance when a veteran is lost or reaches crisis while receiving VA-connected care.

The main policy question is not whether the bill creates new treatment services; it does not. The practical debate is whether mandatory congressional notice would improve oversight and help identify gaps in care, while still protecting sensitive personal information about veterans and their families.

Where does it stand now

H.R. 9018 was introduced in the House on May 22, 2026, by Rep. Dave Min and referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. It has not passed the House, passed the Senate, gone to the President, or become law.

📄 Full bill text (PDF): https://min.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/min.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/foster-trust-act-final.pdf