HR1987-119

What This Bill Does

The Saving Our Veterans Lives Act adds a new VA secure-firearm-storage program. Upon request, an eligible veteran or covered former servicemember could receive a qualifying lockbox or redeemable voucher plus information on secure firearm storage. Covered lockboxes must store firearms and ammunition, prevent unauthorized access, use a key, combination, or similar unlocking method, comply with ASTM F2456-20, be manufactured in the United States, and not be for resale. VA may work with secure-storage entities, must report annually to the Veterans' Affairs and Appropriations Committees on items, vouchers, outreach to veterans not enrolled in VA annual patient enrollment, obstacles, and process improvements, must develop an informational video with suicide-prevention MOU partners, and must run a public education campaign. The bill authorizes $5 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2036 and states that participation may not be used to track firearm ownership, require registration or mandatory storage, prohibit lawful ownership, discourage lawful ownership, or create a participant list.

Who Benefits and How

Veterans who own firearms benefit because they can request a secure lockbox or voucher without losing firearm rights or being put on a firearm-owner list. Former servicemembers eligible under VA transition rules benefit from access to storage devices and suicide-prevention information. Veteran suicide-prevention organizations benefit because VA must pair devices with education and outreach to veterans outside annual patient enrollment. U.S. lockbox manufacturers benefit because covered items must be manufactured in the United States and meet the ASTM standard. Congressional veterans committees benefit from annual data on distribution, vouchers, outreach obstacles, and program improvements.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Department of Veterans Affairs must build the device or voucher program, education video, public campaign, outreach strategy, and annual reports. VA suicide-prevention staff must coordinate with MOU partner organizations and secure-storage experts. Federal taxpayers fund the $5 million annual authorization for fiscal years 2026 through 2036. Secure-storage vendors must meet manufacturing, ASTM, anti-resale, and distribution requirements to participate.

Key Provisions

• Creates a VA program to furnish firearm lockboxes or redeemable vouchers to eligible veterans and former servicemembers.
• Requires secure-storage information, an informational video, a public education campaign, and annual congressional reports.
• Authorizes $5 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2036.
• Protects participant privacy and bars firearm tracking, registration mandates, mandatory storage, and participant lists.