Nimitz News

House Gives Final OK to Vets Legislation

New Laws Will Expand Access to VA Health Care, Boost Veterans Benefit Programs, Protect Veterans Legal Rights

(Washington) - The House of Representatives today gave final approval to a three bills to expand access to VA health care services, boost veterans benefit programs, and strengthen legal protections for servicemembers and veterans. All three bills (H.R. 3936, S. 2484, S. 2486) have already been approved by the Senate and are now head to President Bush for his signature.

"There is no more fundamental responsibility of our government than to care for those men and women who are injured while defending the Nation," said Chairman Smith. "Today's House approval H.R. 3936, the Veterans Health Programs Improvement Act of 2004, will help to ensure that veterans continue to have timely access to needed medical services regardless of where they live."

"One of the continuing tragedies of modern warfare is the devastating injuries that too many of our brave servicemen and women suffer," Smith said. "My legislation would authorize the establishment of new VA research and education centers specifically focused upon developing new treatments for veterans with complex multi-trauma injuries suffered while in combat," he said.

"With the President's signature, H.R. 3936 will also increase spending for the Grant and Per Diem program that assists homeless veterans from $75 million to $99 million in FY 2005. In addition, this legislation will provide federal payments to New Jersey and other States to assist them in hiring and retaining nurses to work in State homes that provide long-term care to veterans," said Smith.

"In order to help recruit and retain highly skilled nurses at VA facilities, H.R. 3936 also creates a new pilot program to use innovative online technologies and outside personnel recruitment agencies, particularly for those areas where there is a looming nursing shortage," Smith said.

Other provisions of H.R. 3936 will:

* Eliminate copayments for veterans receiving hospice care furnished by VA;

* Authorize 16 leases totaling $24,420,000 for VA community-based outpatient clinics;

* Permanently authorize VA's sexual trauma counseling program;

* Provide VA with authority to transfer unneeded real property and retain the proceeds, with provisions to encourage use of excess properties for homeless veterans programs;

* Make all enrolled veterans eligible to use the Veterans' Canteen Service; and

* Require VA to report on the status of its medical waste management systems.

Chairman Smith also hailed approval of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004

(S. 2486), which includes provisions from H.R. 1716, the Veterans Earn and Learn Act, to modernize VA's apprenticeship and job training programs; enhance VA disability compensation benefit programs; expand VA's home loan programs; and strengthen veterans' and servicemembers' legal protections.

"The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act will help bring VA's job training programs in line with the modern workforce structure and allow GI Bill education benefits to be more easily used for a greater number of qualified apprenticeship programs," said Smith. "Under this legislation, GI Bill benefit rates for apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs will be increased to better align with traditional education programs. In addition, this legislation allows GI Bill benefits to be used for apprenticeship programs that are competency-based, requiring the mastery of skills, rather than time-based, requiring a minimum number of months or years on the job," he said.

Building upon the landmark Servicemembers Civil Relief Act signed by President Bush last year, this legislation includes several important new provisions to strengthen the legal protections afforded to our servicemembers when they are called to active duty and after they return home," said Smith. "For example, the new law will close loopholes threatening the right of servicemembers and their families who need to end residential or motor vehicle leases early because they have been called to active duty," he said.

The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 also includes an important new provision to increase the maximum home loan amount which VA will guarantee under its home loan guaranty program. Currently, VA will guarantee 25 percent of a qualified home loan up to $240,000; under the new law, the maximum qualified home loan would rise to $333,700, the maximum level allowed by the federally-chartered Freddie Mac program. This level would be indexed in future years to the Freddie Mac maximum amounts.

The legislation would also provide an additional $250 monthly to surviving spouses with children under the dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) program for a two-year transition period. These benefits are paid to surviving spouses of veterans killed in action or who die from a service-connected disability.

The House today also approved the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Enhancement Act of 2004 (S. 2484), legislation to reform VA's physician pay and nurse employment systems to provide additional flexibility to recruit and retain highly qualified medical personnel. Under the new system, pay rates would reflect the market competition for qualified physicians and dentists on a regional basis, and also provide additional incentives based upon pre-determined performance standards set by VA.