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Washington, D.C. — Yesterday in an evening session in the House of Representatives, Congressman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), the Ranking Republican Member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, helped oversee the passage of two comprehensive veterans’ bills and a third stand alone bill that would increase the special pension for Medal of Honor recipients.

Representative Buyer led the Republican effort throughout the legislative process and during negotiations with the majority party in both the House and Senate to combine a number of measures into two strong bipartisan bills. S. 2162, as amended, the Veterans’ Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008; S. 3023, as amended, the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008; and H.R. 6980, to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension provided under that title by up to $1,000; all passed unanimously by voice vote, and now await action in the Senate. Collectively, the legislation encompasses over a hundred provisions from twenty-six House and Senate passed bill to improve Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) health care and benefits.

Buyer noted that these comprehensive, bipartisan bills include an array of substantive initiatives that include the following highlights:

“S. 2162, as amended, would enhance VA substance-use disorder and mental health programs,” Buyer said. “A full continuum of care for substance-use disorder will enable at-risk veterans to obtain care and overcome the stigma that may prevent them from seeking the services they need. The bill would also establish a pilot program to allow veterans in certain highly rural areas to obtain care from their local community providers.  This provision originated from legislation introduced by my good friend and long-time Member of the Committee, Jerry Moran of Kansas.  Jerry has been an unfailing champion of rural veterans and I applaud him for his hard work and dedication to this cause.”

“I am pleased that this bill includes a measure I introduced in H.R. 6366, to help VA secure collections from third-party insurance companies.  Specifically, it would require VA to establish seven Consolidated Patient Accounting Centers or CPACs modeled after successful pilot program that enhanced VA revenue by more than $12.5 million in fiscal year 2007 and more than $22 million over and above the goal as of August for fiscal year 2008. Having VA secure hundreds of millions of dollars that currently go uncollected will go a long way in improving veterans’ health care.”

“S. 3023, as amended, would begin a 20-year study of veterans who participate in VA’s vocational rehabilitation program, and increase the amount of time to 20 years that spouses, of deceased or totally disabled veterans, have to use VA education benefits. The bill expands several protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, and clarifies VA’s authority to purchase advertising as part of its outreach efforts.”

“One of the most exciting parts of this bill would authorize a new program at VA to promote increased participation by disabled veterans in adaptive sports.The US Paralympic Team that competed in the Beijing included thirteen disabled veterans; several of whom were wounded in the war on Terror. These spectacular Americans are the wave of a future when disabled veterans competing with artificial limbs or spinal cord dysfunction will be commonplace.”

“S. 3023 will also enhance and improve veterans’ benefits and the system that administers them. Such provisions include measures to increase the accuracy and timeliness of benefits claims decisions and to enhance VA’s use of information technology. It would also look at VA disability compensation to ensure due consideration is afforded to veterans for their loss of earnings and quality of life, and it would allow substitution upon death of a claimant for purposes of acquiring accrued benefits. This provision would relieve survivors of deceased claimants the frustration and time consuming process of starting the entire claims process over from square one. S. 3023, as amended, would create a VA Office of Survivor’s Assistance to ensure surviving dependents have access to benefits and services, and H.R. 6980 would increase the rate of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000, subject to appropriations.”

“I would like to conclude by mentioning a notable provision that would designate the spinal cord injury center at the VA medical center in Tampa, Florida, as the ‘Michael Bilirakis Department of Veterans Affairs Spinal Cord Injury Center.’ Congressman Bilirakis is himself a veteran who served on our Committee for twenty-four years from 1983 to 2007, during which time, he fought for Concurrent Receipt, Survivor Benefit Plan improvements for the widows of military retirees, Benefits and Healthcare for former Prisoners-of-War, and Hospice Care for Veterans.”

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