Veterans Day is a time when we come together to honor our courageous Servicemembers who have selflessly served and sacrificed for our country. House Republicans understand it is our solemn duty to honor their sacrifice, service, and heroism. That is why we committed to fully fund veterans benefits in our budgets, to ensure the men and women who have served have access to the care, benefits, and services they have earned.
We fulfilled that commitment to our veterans when we passed the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which fully funds veterans' health care programs, benefits, and other Department of Veterans Affairs programs. This bill was also an increase of more than $16 billion over Fiscal Year 2023 enacted levels.
HOW HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE HONORED OUR NATION'S VETERANS:
By passing the FY24 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, House Republicans honored our commitment to veterans by:
Fully funding veterans’ health care programs; and
Fully funding veterans’ benefits and VA programs, including the electronic health record modernization initiative.
By passing H.R. 1226, the Wounded Warrior Access Act, to modernize the Department of Veterans’ Affairs by making it easier for veterans to access their claims file in an electronic format.
By passing H.R. 815, the RELIEVE Act, to close a loophole that left certain veterans’ uninsured for emergency treatment.
By passing H.R. 502, to eliminate an outdated rule regarding reimbursements to veterans and allow 25,000 servicemembers and veterans to receive Montgomery GI Bill reimbursement, which they are entitled to.
By passing S. 777, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2023, to ensure that veterans’ benefits purchasing power does not erode due to the highest inflation in 40 years.
By passing H.R. 1669, the VET–TEC Authorization Act of 2023, as amended, to continue a popular high tech education and employment program for veterans and transitioning Servicemembers, as well as:
Ensure a burial allowance for veterans who die at home under care by VA funded hospice services;
And modernize the VA by authorizing the use of electronic records for education assistance eligibility notification to make it easier for veterans and Servicemembers to access their GI Bill benefits.
By passing H.R. 366, the Korean American VALOR Act, to ensure Korean-American veterans who served in Vietnam are eligible for VA healthcare.
By passing S. 30, the FY23 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act, to authorize the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to construct or renovate seven major medical facilities in FY23.
By passing S. 112, requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make reforms to support children of Vietnam veterans who are born with spina bifida.
By passing H.R. 3981, the Isakson-Roe Education Oversight Expansion Act, to expand the Department of Veterans Affairs oversight of educational institutions that are recipients of GI bill education benefits.
By passing H.R. 1530, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023, to make reforms to the process for veterans benefit claims.
By passing S. 2795, to provide for a 2 year extension of licensure requirements for contractor medical professionals to perform medical disability examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs under a pilot program for use of contract physicians for disability examinations.
It also provides a 2 year extension of period for applicability of certain relief for recipients of VA educational assistance who are affected by closure or disapproval of an education institution.
MAKE NO MISTAKE: House Republicans always have and always will be the strongest supporters of our Servicemembers and veterans.
