WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, 20-year Navy veteran Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) voted in support of multiple pieces of legislation that will support veterans and military families and improve their quality of life.
“As a 20-year Navy veteran, I know firsthand how difficult the transition from active-duty service to civilian can be for some,” Rep Luria said. “I was proud to advance these pieces of legislation that will ensure our veterans do not go hungry, expand benefits for disabled veterans, and support the families of fallen servicemembers. It is our duty as a nation to take care of those who fought for us and their families, and improving the quality of life for our veterans is the least that we can do to show our gratitude. I remain committed to supporting our veterans and military families in Coastal Virginia and across the country.”
Rep. Luria is on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs where she serves as Chair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.
Recently, Rep. Luria’s bipartisan Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2022 overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives and the Sente for the fourth straight year. The Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2022 increases compensation and benefits for disabled veterans and their families.
In August, President Joe Biden signed the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2021 to expand health care services and benefits for burn pit and toxic substance exposed veterans. The final version of the Honoring Our PACT Act includes two of Rep. Luria’s bills: the COVENANT Act, which addresses toxic exposure to include both a comprehensive list of overseas locations that would qualify a veteran for earned benefits and a list of presumptive illnesses contracted as a result of airborne exposure, and the Veterans Disability Claims Notification Improvement Act, which ensures the timely processing and notification of veteran claim decisions through modern, electronic means.
More information on the legislation passed is below:
H.R. 8888 – Food Security for all Veterans Act
Establishes an office dedicated to ending veteran hunger at VA. The VA Office of Food Security will collaborate with internal and external groups to develop and implement policies and procedures to identify and treat veterans at-risk of or experiencing hunger.
H.R. 3304 – AUTO for Veterans Act
Expands eligibility for disabled Veterans to receive vehicles modified for their disability.
H.R. 8875 – Expanding Home Loans for Guard and Reservists Act
Makes technical fix to expand eligibility for VA home loans by counting active duty for training when Guard and Reservists are training for things like Special Forces, Aviation, or Linguistics.
H.R 5918 –To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made by such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, as amended.
H.R. 7589 – REMOVE Copays Act
Prohibits the imposition or collection of copayments for the first three VA mental health outpatient appointments in each calendar year for veterans enrolled in the VA health care system.
H.R. 8510 – Strengthening Whistleblower Protections at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Act
Provides greater independence to the VA Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP); ends the duplicative investigative responsibility of OAWP, instead relying on the independent federal entity of the Office of Special Counsel; broadens whistleblower protections by clarifying the definition for prohibited personnel practices; and establishes increased accountability through new oversight and reporting authorities, including for the settlement agreements that provide a whistleblower with restored employment and financial restitution.
S. 2794 – Supporting Families of the Fallen Act
Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the maximum amount of a policy under the Veterans’ Group Life Insurance and Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance. The bill increases the maximum amount to $500K from $400K.
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