119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 9862
The Responsible Artificial Intelligence for Veterans Act of 2026 directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to hire an independent research center to evaluate artificial intelligence systems currently used in veterans' healthcare. The evaluation must focus on at least five AI systems that are either widely deployed or pose significant risks to patient safety, examining areas like system reliability, bias, data security, oversight mechanisms, and clinical effectiveness. Within one year of the agreement, the research center must submit a detailed report to Congress identifying any safety risks and recommending corrective actions, and the VA Secretary must then submit his own plan within 120 days addressing each finding with specific timelines and responsible officials. The Government Accountability Office will review both the evaluation and the VA's corrective action plan within 180 days and report to Congress. The bill uses existing VA funding with no new appropriations required and mandates that Congress receive full, unredacted access to the evaluation and any implementation updates.