Ciscomani Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Flagship Veterans Package for 118th Congress
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) today unveiled legislation alongside leadership from both the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees to reform and improve the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (H.R. 8371) will be the flagship veterans package for the 118th Congress, similar to the 116th Congress’ Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (H.R. 7105). The legislation encompasses a number of bipartisan and bicameral proposals to reform and improve the delivery of healthcare, benefits, and services at the VA for veterans, their families, and their survivors. One provision included in the package is Ciscomani’s push to reauthorize the VET-TEC workforce training program.
The effort was introduced by Ciscomani with support from House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL-12) as well as Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT), and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS).
“With over 70,000 veterans in my district, one of my top priorities in Congress has been to ensure our veterans are getting what they need — and what they deserve — from the VA,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “As I continue to hear from our veterans, it’s clear there is still work to be done to fulfill our duty to provide for the men and women who served. The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act makes great strides to close the gaps in economic opportunity, care, and housing that have left our service members behind, and I’m proud to work alongside Chairman Bost to deliver improved benefits for our veterans, and their families.”
“Since I became Chairman, I have long said that the men and women who have served and sacrifice for our nation have earned a VA that works with them – not against them,” said Chairman Bost. “Over the past year and a half, we have listened to veterans and stakeholders to find the gaps within VA’s services and consider commonsense legislation to improve them where we can. The bipartisan bill from my friend from Arizona, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, is a product of that work. This bill would expand economic opportunities for veterans, give veterans more choice in where they choose to live out their sunset years or receive healthcare, improve mental health support for veteran caregivers, hold VA accountable to the taxpayers and veterans they serve, and so much more. Each of these improvements will make a positive impact on veterans and their families every single day, and I look forward to passing this good bill out of the House soon.”
The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act is supported by a growing list of the following organizations: The American Legion (TAL), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Reserve Organization of America (ROA), The Enlisted Association (TREA), Black Veterans Empowerment Council (BVEC), National Association of State Approving Agencies (NASAA), National Association of Veteran Program Administrators (NAVPA), National PACE Association, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), and the Hospice Action Network (HAN). Homelessness Prevention Groups: U.S. VETS, New England Center and Home for Veterans. VET-TEC Education Training Providers: TLG Learning, Divergence Academy, Skillstorm, Intellectual Point, Prime Digital Academy, and the VET TEC Working Group. Additional Organizations: Lyft.
To learn more about the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, click here. Bill text can be found here.
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