The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee has proposed 18 separate bills for consideration by Congress. (Photo: Veterans.House.gov)
The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs advanced 18 bills supporting veterans last Thursday.
Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA) said, “the best way we can honor our veterans is through action—with these 18 bills, we can back up our ‘thank you’s’ with concrete steps to ensure all veterans have equitable access to the care and benefits they’ve earned. I thank every Member for their work on these bills and look forward to their passage on the House floor.”
The bills are not considered law until passed by Congress.
New Bills Aimed At Supporting Veterans
Below, we have provided a quick overview of each prospective bill. Readers can click on the bill titles for further information. Bills introduced by California representatives have been noted where relevant.
1. A.N.S. offered by Rep. Levin to H.R. 1836 – Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2021
Introduced by Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA)
Every day that a servicemember of the National Guard or reservist is paid and in uniform would count toward GI Bill benefits.
2. A.N.S. offered by Rep. Pappas to H.R. 3944 – Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2021
Grants awarded by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs would no longer place restrictions on State veterans cemeteries for the interment of reservists.
3. H.R. 5603, as amended – Protections for Student Veterans Act
Student veterans could not be penalized by educational institutions if called to service.
4. A.N.S. offered by Rep. Mrvan to H.R. 4591 – VA Electronic Health Record Transparency Act of 2021
Co-Introduced by Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)
The VA would be required to report all costs of the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program to Congress. California Legion News previously reported on the program in March 2021.
5. A.N.S. offered by Rep. Bost to H.R. 2250 – VA IT Reform Act of 2021
The VA would no longer be able to start “new major IT projects” without first submitting a proposal to Congress with estimated costs, goals, and a timeframe.
6. H.R. 5721 – VIPER Act
Introduced by Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)
The VA Infrastructure Powers Exceptional Research Act of 2021 would authorize the creation of a VA Office of Research in Development to “ensure program continuity,” cut down on paperwork requirements, improve the VA’s ability to hire and retain scientists from other federal agencies, create new STEM opportunities for veterans at “smaller” universities, afford the VA more transactional authority “in line with 11 other federal agencies,” and mandate a GAO study on the VA’s ability to retain clinician-scientists as well as their work.
7. H.R. 2916 – VA Medical Cannabis Research Act of 2021
Introduced by Rep. J. Luis Correa (D-CA)
The VA would be required to research applications of medical-grade cannabis as they pertain to covered veterans and servicemembers, and particularly those who suffer from chronic pain or PTSD.
Our full breakdown: VA to Research Medical Benefits of Cannabis for Veterans, Servicemembers if New Law Advanced by House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Passes | California American Legion (calegion.org)
8. H.R. 5029 – Expanding the Families of Veterans Access to Mental Health Services Act
Eligibility for mental health services for spouses and dependents of servicemembers or veterans who committed suicide would be expanded.
9. H.R. 5516, as amended – VITAL Assessment Act
The VA would be required to report on the current state of the Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership program in addition to creating new policies, goals, and benchmarking strategies.
10. A.N.S. offered by Rep. Miller-Meeks to H.R. 5529 – Veterans Justice Outreach Improvement Act
Improved efforts would be made to ensure that veterans who are either incarcerated or at risk of incarceration are aware of the benefits offered by the Veterans Justice Outreach program, particularly as it pertains to veterans homelessness.
11. H.R. 5671, as amended – To Authorize the Secretary Of Veterans Affairs to Furnish Seasonal Influenza Vaccines to Certain Individuals, and for Other Purposes
This bill would allow the VA to administer seasonal influenza vaccines to spouses, dependents, and veteran caregivers in addition to previously authorized COVID-19 vaccines.
12. A.N.S. offered by Rep. Brownley to H.R. 2385 – Justice for Women Veterans Act
Introduced by Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA)
The Just for Women Veterans act would “study the involuntary discharges of women from the Armed Forces between 1951 and 1976” for irregularities. Women veterans who were unfairly discharged could then have benefits restored.
Our full breakdown: Proposed Act Would Require GAO to Review Involuntary Separation of Women from Military Between 1951–1976 | California American Legion (calegion.org)
13. H.R. 5562 – To Amend Title 38, United States Code, to Expand Eligibility for Hospital Care, Medical Services, and Nursing Home Care from the Department of Veterans Affairs to Include Veterans Of World War II
Co-Introduced by Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA)
Surviving WWII veterans would have easier access to VA health benefits. An accompanying bill has already been sponsored in the Senate.
14. A.N.S. offered by Rep. Takano to H.R. 1596 – Commission on LGBTQ Servicemembers and Veterans Act
Co-Introduced by Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)
A commission would be created to evaluate current and past military practices relating to LGBTQ servicemembers and veterans. Accompanying legislation is being sponsored in the Senate as well.
15. H.R. 4845 – To Amend Title 38, United States Code, to Establish the Advisory Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Veterans
An advisory committee would be created to work with the VA in determining benefits for LGBTQ veterans. The committee would also conduct relevant research.
16. H.R. 3730 – To Amend Title 38, United States Code, to Establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs an Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States, and for Other Purposes
A new committee would be created that evaluates the administration of benefits to U.S. veterans and servicemembers from American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
17. H.R. 5607 – Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2021
Spouses of veterans who died from ALS would receive increased VA compensation “regardless of how long the veterans had such disease prior to death.”
18. H.R. 5151, as amended – Col. James Floyd Turner IV USMC GI Bill Transfer Act of 2021
Transfer of entitlement to Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits would occur when an “eligible individual” dies. If more than one transferee exists, benefits would be distributed evenly.
Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.