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Washington, D.C. – Today, the House approved three veterans’ measures, including an omnibus bill that combines provisions from nine bills previously approved by two subcommittees to improve Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and life insurance programs.   

H.R. 3219, the omnibus bill, included a provision originally in H.R. 2270 introduced by House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Steve Buyer, which would provide a $1,000 a month benefit to all WWII civilian groups that were given veterans’ status under the G.I. Bill Improvement Act of 1997.  A previously passed House bill provides a similar benefit only to WWII Merchant Mariners.

“I am pleased that the House voted to provide equity for these brave men and women who served valiantly during World War II,” said Buyer. “Groups such as the Flying Tigers and the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPS) clearly deserve any benefits that similar categories of veterans are entitled to, and I am thankful that so many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle agree with this provision.”

Another Buyer provision in H.R. 3219 would allow veterans to purchase additional amounts of Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI). Currently, the amount of VGLI coverage cannot be changed.

Because the level of coverage must be made within the first year of discharge, and because most separating servicemembers are young and single, many select levels that become insufficient as they age and have families.

Buyer’s provision, originally in H.R. 2379, would allow veterans to purchase up to $400,000 of VGLI coverage in $25,000 increments, every five years, until the age of 60. The cost of such increases would be offset by premiums, so there would be no direct cost to taxpayers.

H.R. 2770, which was introduced by Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer, would modernize and clarify the laws governing VA Nonprofit Research Corporations (NPC). 

“NPC’s were first authorized in 1988 and provide valuable support for VA-approved research and education that benefit our nation’s veterans,” said Buyer. “However, it has been more than twenty years since we have updated the laws governing their operation and this legislation would update existing law to improve the operation of non-profit research organizations to better meet the needs of the VA.”

H.R. 3155 would improve and increase services to support family caregivers, by expanding outreach, education, respite care, travel benefits, and mental health counseling.  The bill would also recognize the unique needs of severely wounded OEF/OIF warriors by providing a stipend to certain family caregivers, and it would extend CHAMPVA eligibility to those without health insurance.

“Caregivers of wounded warriors face their own difficulties while learning to deal with stress and emotions, changes in job or family income, or complex patient care needs that can come with providing care for their loved one,” said Buyer.  “It is important that family caregivers are given the much-needed support to help them fulfill this vital role and bipartisan legislation like this will help them do so.”   

For more news from House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Republicans, please go to:

http://republicans.veterans.house.gov/

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