By: Stephanie Kalota
Founder, Veteran Legislative Voice & AHG Correspondent
Before Christmas, three congressional bills passed the Senate and the House and were presented to the President’s desk. They are S. 2181, the Keeping Military Families Together Act
of 2023, S. 2513, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2024, and S. 141, Senator
Elizabeth Dole's 21 st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act.
Before Christmas, three congressional bills passed the Senate and the House and were presented to the President’s desk. They are S. 2181, the Keeping Military Families Together Act
of 2023, S. 2513, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2024, and S. 141, Senator
Elizabeth Dole's 21 st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act.
The second bill, introduced by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2024, is long overdue and it contains a large amount of improvements! It improves the disability benefit questionnaire forms, (which helps veterans in their disability claims processing)
and provisions for medical disability examinations by the contractors. It also requires a report on the feasibility of providing enhanced access to certain systems to governmental veterans'
service officers, whether the VA would benefit from the establishment of an intergovernmental
liaison between the VA and the governmental veterans' service officers, and any other
recommendations that may improve how the VA monitors, coordinates with or provides support
to covered governmental veterans service officers. This bill also creates an internship program for the Board of Veterans’ Appeals for those enrolled in the first or second year of law schools
accredited by the American Bar Association. Another aspect of the bill is the establishment of
benefits for those laypersons who work for the Department of Veterans Affairs like student loan repayment, a mentorship program, and an occupational assignment program. The last two
items include an increase on additional temporary expansion of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and a report on improving access to Board of Veterans’ Appeals
telehearings.
The last bill, introduced by Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act has been something that many
have been watching. This is a very extensive bill that is set to improve certain VA programs for home and community-based services, education services, home loan programs, homeless
veteran programs, disability, and memorial affairs matters, oversight and investigation matters,
and employment/training programs for veterans. Many organizations like the Disabled American
Veterans, the Wounded Warrior Project, and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation applaud the
progress of this bill, especially for everything that it will improve.
As this article is written, these bills are yet to be signed by President Biden. But there are not any known causes of concern on whether he would veto it. This could be a lasting legacy for veterans before his administration ends that could improve the quality of lives of many who
served.
