WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation aimed at modernizing language used in a key veterans employment program, moving away from terminology that many veterans consider outdated and potentially offensive.
The Veterans Employment Readiness Yield (VERY) Act of 2025, designated as H.R. 2625, passed by voice vote without objection following committee markup on May 6. The bill now advances to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
Key Changes to Veterans Program
The legislation makes technical but significant changes to the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program by replacing the term “employment handicap” with “employment barrier” and “serious employment handicap” with “serious employment barrier.” Importantly, the definitions and eligibility criteria for these categories remain unchanged.
“The VERY Act of 2025 makes changes to let our disabled veterans know that they are receiving the respect and dignity they have rightfully earned, and this technical fix will go a long way to serve disabled veterans better,” said Congressman Don Davis (NC-01), who announced the bill’s passage.
Responding to Veterans’ Concerns
The push for updated terminology stems from feedback from veterans who have expressed that the word “handicap” is outdated and does not adequately represent their experiences and capabilities. Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Congress has worked to modernize language across federal programs to ensure all disabled veterans feel comfortable accessing VA services.
The updated terminology is expected to improve program efficiency and encourage more disabled veterans to utilize VR&E services, according to supporters of the legislation.
Advocacy Support
Veterans’ advocacy organizations have endorsed the language changes. “The Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Program plays a critical role in helping disabled veterans find meaningful employment that meets their needs,” said Heather Ansley, Chief Policy Officer of Paralyzed Veterans of America. “Updating program language to improve clarity and impact reinforces the message that the VA is ready and able to help eligible veterans overcome barriers to employment.”
Legislative History
This marks the second time the House has passed this legislation. The chamber first approved identical language during the 118th Congress on November 18, 2024, under bill number H.R. 7653. The current version maintains the same text as its predecessor.
