House Passes Congressman Hamadeh’s Bipartisan Veterans’ Health and Education Access Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed Congressman Abe Hamadeh's (AZ-08) bipartisan bills, the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity Actand the Health Professionals Scholarship Program (HPSP) Improvement Act of 2025.

Congressman Hamadeh proudly joined Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) in offering both pieces of legislation which will assist veterans by increasing their access to education and healthcare services.

"I believe that meeting the needs of our veterans should never be partisan and all government programs should be centered around what is best for the veteran. I am so grateful to Congresswoman Budzinski for sharing that commitment," stated Congressman Hamadeh, a former U.S. Army Reserve Intelligence Officer.

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity Act legislation will assist veterans in their pursuit of degrees in science, health care, and technology by removing the requirement that applicants must exhaust their Post 9-11/GI Bill benefits before they can apply, making STEM education more accessible to veterans still using their benefits.

This bill reduces the waiting period, allowing veterans to apply when they have 45 months of benefits remaining, rather than the current 6-month requirement.

The Health Professionals Scholarship Program (HPSP) Improvement Act of 2025 will alleviate the Veterans Health Administration staffing shortages by directing the Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs to ensure HPSP participants receive a full-time employment contract with the VHA no later than 90 days after completing their training and obtaining necessary licensure.

The HPSP bill, H.R. 3767, amends Section 7616 of Title 38, to enhance the strengthens the Health Professionals Scholarship Program to address staffing shortages within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

"As too many taxpayers well know, the VA spends millions of our hard-earned taxpayer dollars training healthcare professionals through scholarships," Congressman Hamadeh stated on the House floor. "Yet these same qualified professionals are forced to wait months for employment contracts after graduation, all the while our veterans suffer. It's government inefficiency at its worst, and our veterans seem to always be paying the price. Veterans are sent to emergency rooms while skilled doctors are waiting to serve patients. That is why I introduced this bipartisan legislation with my colleague Rep. Budzinski because we saw a problem that required action."

Listen to Congressman Hamadeh on H.R. 3767.