Amata Radewagen

05/01/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/01/2024 13:34

Amata Highlights House Passage of Veterans’ Bills

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amatais highlighting House passage of several bipartisan bills addressing various Veterans' issues that originated in the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, including key education reforms to protect Veterans.
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Recent Veterans' Subcommittee hearing

Vice Chairman Amata said, "I am blessed to serve on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee with a respected Chairman in Mike Bost, himself a Veteran along with others on the Committee, where bipartisan efforts with Ranking Member Mark Takano are common on behalf of Veterans' issues. I'm happy to inform Veterans of this week's House passage of these bills taking on specific Veterans' services or needs that have been raised to the Committee, which is why our hearings and roundtables where we listen directly to Veterans are always so valuable to the Congress. Last month, I spoke on the phone with VA Secretary McDonough as he highlighted his budget priorities, and Congress continues to increase funding yearly to bolster veterans' care and services."H.R. 5914 - Veterans Education Transparency and Training Act, known as the VETT Act. The bill ensures that veterans would receive more accurate information about the cost of education, modify requirements for information the schools must provide to veterans, and establish an online portal through the VA to serve as a comprehensive resource center for training available to School Certifying Officials.H.R. 3738 - Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration Act. The bill would create another administration within VA to provide support and assistance related to economic opportunities for veterans, their dependents, and survivors. Veterans' rehabilitation and employment programs, educational assistance programs, the Transition Assistance Program, and veterans home loan programs would receive more focused attention and be assigned to a new Under Secretary.H.R. 1767 - Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act. The bill establishes a process for student veterans to have their GI Bill education benefits restored in qualifying instances, such as when a student veteran has been defrauded by an educational institution. This bill also puts in place due process to ensure fairness for both schools and veterans.H.R. 4016 - Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act. The bill makes it easier for veterans with fiduciaries to be made financially whole in the event their fiduciaries misuse their VA compensation benefits, by allowing the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) to reimburse victims of misuse without first meeting unnecessary bureaucratic requirements.H.R. 3722 - The Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act. The bill creates a pilot program designed to counsel servicemembers about mental health, the challenges that they might face during transition to civilian life and how that might affect their mental health. The bill would also inform servicemembers about the VA services available to them.Chairman Bostsaid, "It's a good day when the House can come together and pass important, bipartisan bills to enhance the delivery of services to our nation's veterans, especially when it comes to education programs. One of the bills we passed this week is Economic Opportunity Chairman Rep. Van Orden's bill, the VETT Act, which would eliminate barriers for veterans seeking higher education and modernize the availability of getting veterans all the information they need to make the right decision about their education. This is in lockstep with Dr. Wenstrup's bill to restructure transition, education, and employment programs at VA by dedicating an undersecretary to that office to give these issues the attention they have earned for today's veteran community. I plan to urge the Senate to move these vitally important bills in short order."

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