U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS PRAISES HOUSE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION AIMED AT IMPROVING THE LIVES OF AMERICA’S VETERANS

Legislation will improve health insurance coverage and services for veterans with disabilities

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today praised House passage of five bills aimed at improving the lives of America’s veterans.

“The best way to honor the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans is through legislation that will have a direct, positive impact on their quality of life,” said Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “The bills we passed demonstrate that America stands shoulder to shoulder with the men and women who stood ready to protect our freedoms.”

House action on the legislation took place Monday and Tuesday. The bills are:

H.R. 3219 - Veterans' Insurance and Health Care Improvements Act
• Makes permanent an extension of the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage for 100 percent disabled veterans.
• Allows veterans under age 60 to increase coverage under Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to a maximum amount of $400,000 and eliminates an accelerated death benefit for terminally ill persons insured under SGLI and VGLI.
• Provides permanent Veterans Administration authority to provide hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans suffering Agent Orange-connected illnesses or suspect Gulf War Syndrome but who have insufficient medical evidence to establish a service-connected disability.
• Prohibits copayments for catastrophically disabled veterans.
• Increases participant eligibility for a pilot program of contract care for veterans residing in highly rural areas.
• Establishes the Qualified World War II Veterans Equity Compensation Fund to provide monthly payments of $1,000 to former active-duty World War II veterans who have not received benefits under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944.

H.R. 1293 - Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act
• Increases payments for veterans who suffered a service-connected injury to retrofit their home to accommodate their permanent injury up to a maximum $6,800.

H.R. 2770 - Veterans Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations Enhancement Act
• Permits VA medical facilities of nonprofit research and education corporations to conduct research or education at more than one VA medical center – calling them multi-medical center research corporations.

H.R. 3155 - Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act
• Creates a new caregiver program to help family and non-family members who provide care for disabled, ill, or injured veterans enrolled in the VA health care system. Key components of the new program would include support services such as educational sessions, access to a comprehensive one-stop resource directory, counseling and mental health services, and respite care.
• Provides a monthly financial stipend, health care through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and lodging and subsistence to eligible caregivers of certain veterans.

HR 1803 - Veterans Business Center Act
• Establishes within the Small Business Administration a Veterans Business Center program to provide entrepreneurial training and counseling to veterans.
• Provides grants for veteran entrepreneurial development, counseling of veteran-owned small businesses through one-on-one instruction and classes, and government procurement assistance to veterans.