US HB2970

Renames the VA's "Office of Patient Advocacy" to the "Office of the National Veterans' Advocate" and establishes it as an independent office reporting directly to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, rather than under the Under Secretary for Health

Creates a National Veterans' Advocate position compensated at the highest Senior Executive Service pay rate, along with Deputy National Veterans' Advocates in each Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)

Requires at least one veteran advocate for every 12,000 enrolled veterans in each VISN geographic area, with authority to manage casework issues across the entire VA Department

Mandates semi-annual reports to Congress (by March 30 and September 30) with independent legislative recommendations that cannot be reviewed by the Secretary before submission, plus establishment of a public casework request portal

Authorizes $25 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to implement these changes