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IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Peter Dickinson, (202) 225-3664 http://veterans.house.gov House Veterans' Affairs Committee 2001 Accomplishments Fulfilling America's Promises to Our Veterans H.R. 2716 - Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act Authorizes $1 Billion to Aid Homeless Veterans and Prevent Veterans From Becoming Homeless On the President's Desk, Awaiting His Signature for Enactment Ø Authorizes 2,000 Additional Section 8 HUD Low-Income Housing Vouchers for Homeless Veterans Ø Authorizes 10 New Domicilliaries for Homeless Veterans Programs Ø Authorizes $285 Million for the Homeless Grant and Per Diem Program Ø Authorizes $250 Million for the Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Ø Requires VA to Provide Technical Assistance to Nonprofit Community-Based Organizations Seeking Federal Funding for Homeless Programs Ø Requires the VA to Provide Mental Health Programs Wherever Primary Care is Provided Ø Earmarks $10 Million for Medical Care for Homeless Veterans With Special Needs, Including Older Veterans, Women and Substance Abusers H.R. 1291 - Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act Authorizes More Than $3.1 Billion Over Five Years to Expand and Increase Educational, Housing, Burial and Disability Benefits. On the President's Desk, Awaiting His Signature for Enactment Ø Boosts the MGIB College Education Benefit Amount by Record 46% over 2 Years Ø Restores Lost MGIB Benefits for Reservists and National Guard Members Called Up to Active Duty Ø Increases Home Loan Guaranty Program from $50,700 to $60,000 Ø Increases Grants for Specially Adapted Housing for Severely Disabled Veterans from $43,000 to $48,000 Ø Increases the Automobile and Adaptive Equipment Grant for Severely Disabled Veterans Ø Increases Burial and Funeral Expense Benefits by 25% and Doubles Burial Plot Allowances Ø Adds Diabetes Type II to List of Service-Connected Conditions for Vietnam Veterans Exposed to Agent Organge Ø Adds Undiagnosed Conditions, Such as Fybromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Chronic Multi-Symptom Illnesses to List of Service-Connected Conditions for Gulf War Veterans H.R. 2540 - Veterans Compensation Rate Amendments of 2001 Boosts Compensation Payments for Disabled Veterans by $2.5 Billion Over the Next Five Years. On the President's Desk, Awaiting His Signature for Enactment Ø For 100% Disabled Veterans, the Average Increase Would Be $738 Per Year H.R. 3447 - Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act Increases Spending on Health Programs for Veterans by $1.4 Billion Passed the House, Senate Action Expected Any Day Ø Lowers Out-Of-Pocket Hospitalization Expenses for Lower Inco Veterans by 80% to Compensate for Regional Differences in the Cost-Of-Living Ø Requires the VA to Establish Chiropractic Care Programs Nationwide Ø Authorizes Service Dog Programs for Paralyzed and Other Severely Disabled Veterans Ø Requires the VA to Maintain Specialized Medical Programs - Such as for Mental Illness, Spinal Cord Injuries and Prosthetics - in Each of the 21 VA Regions Ø Creates New Incentive and Recruitment Programs to Attract and Retain VA Nurses H.R. 801 - Veterans Survivors' Benefits Improvements Act (P.L. 107-14) Adds $100 Million in New Health Care Benefits for Surviving Spouses of Veterans, and Extends Life Insurance Coverage to Spouses and Children of Servicemembers Signed into Law on June 5, 2001 Ø Expands CHAMPVA to Surviving Spouses of Veterans Who Die of A Service-Connected Disability Ø Expands Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) to Include Spouses and Children of Servicemembers; $100,000 for Spouses and $10,000 for Children Ø Makes Retroactive to October 1, 2000 Increases in the Maximum SGLI Benefit for Servicemembers Killed In The Line of Duty to $250,000 H.R. 811 - Veterans Hospitals Emergency Repair Act Authorizes $550 Million over Two Years to Repair, Renovate and Rebuild Dilapidated VA Medical Facilities Passed the House Only Ø Provides the VA With Authority to Award Grants Up to $30 Per Selected Medical Facility H.R. 3423 - Reforming Burial Rules at Arlington National Cemetery Reforms the Law on In-Ground Burials for Guardsmen and Reservists at Arlington National Cemetery House Approval Expected Today (12/19/01) Ø Removes the Age Requirement for Retired Reserve Members Ø Makes Eligible All Guardsmen and Reservists Who Die in the Line of Duty. Please visit http://veterans.house.gov,
the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs web site, named 'One of the
Best Web Sites in Congress' by the Congressional Management Foundation,
May 3, 1999. |
