Sweeping Veterans and Caregivers Legislation Passes
Congress Congress cleared a sweeping veterans’ omnibus health care measure last week that would also provide assistance to caregivers of veterans.
The bill (S. 1963), which passed the House 419-0 on April 21 and the Senate the next day by voice vote, includes several of The American Legion’s top legislative priorities: to improve women’s services at VA health-care facilities, provide better support for caregivers of disabled veterans, expand mental-health services, reduce homelessness and commit the Federal government to a number of other initiatives to better serve veterans and their families. President Obama is expected to sign the bill before Memorial Day.
Last September, The American Legion National Commander Clarence Hill testified before a joint session of the Veterans’ Affairs Committees that women’s health-care needs had to move up on the congressional agenda for VA. “The demographic of the American veteran is changing,” he told the committees at that time. “This includes a growing and significant number of women veterans who sacrifice no less than their male counterparts.”
After S. 1963 passed last Wednesday, The American Legion Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Division Director Barry Searle said the nation’s largest veterans’ organization is “especially impressed by the attention this bill is giving to our 1.8 million women veterans. It specifically calls for VA mental-health professionals to be educated and trained to handle sexual trauma cases. It authorizes a study to find out what barriers are preventing women veterans from seeking the VA health-care benefits they’ve earned from their service. The bill creates a pilot program to provide childcare services for mothers who need VA services, and even provides seven days of health care to newborn children of women veterans.”
National Commander Hill added that The American Legion has worked closely with Congress over the last year and a half to set fresh, relevant priorities for VA health care and pass legislation that will make them a reality. “This omnibus bill really strengthens the quality and quantity of health care for the nation’s veterans,” Commander Hill explained. “It improves VA rural health care and increases access to mental health care. It even gives more care and services to veterans who’ve been exposed to Agent Orange and other chemicals in combat zones. This bill is a comprehensive response to many things The American Legion has been advocating for quite some time.”
The American Legion has worked for several years to improve VA access in rural areas. In many sparsely populated parts of the country, veterans are forced to drive hundreds of miles to receive medical care. Until recent years, their travel reimbursement was 11 cents a mile. While the reimbursement rate has more than quadrupled in response to pressure from The American Legion, the omnibus bill passed Wednesday is designed to do a better job of delivering care where veterans live.
“This bill will do a lot for veterans living in rural and other remote areas,” Searle explained. “It requires VA to focus on recruiting and retaining more health-care workers in rural areas, improve the overall quality of health care in rural communities, and to expand telemedicine services in those areas.”
Commander Hill has also spoken with leaders in Congress and the administration to extend help for families who struggle to take care of their wounded-warrior or disabled-veteran spouses or children. “This legislation will support family members and others who care for the disabled, ill, or injured veterans,” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said, “This is very important to families, military families. Our wounded soldiers and their families have made a serious sacrifice for our country, and this bill will bring them some relief.” The measure offers 24-hour respite care in veterans’ homes, caregiver training and mental health counseling, as well as financial support to cover travel costs for medical treatment.
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner, D-Calif., and Speaker Pelosi both praised The American Legion for its persistence, insight and support as the bill was crafted. “As the leaders of The American Legion have stated, this legislation offers bold solutions to major challenges facing service members, veterans and their families.”
Our sincere thanks to everyone who called, wrote and emailed Congress with regard to this matter. This significant and far-reaching bill will enhance VA’s ability to furnish veterans with the quality health care and benefits they have earned through their service to country. The American Legion looks forward to timely implementation of the provisions of the legislation.