Veterans

Our men and women in uniform have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe here at home and abroad. Congress promised our service members and their families that we will take care of them when they come back home. Since being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, I have worked tirelessly to tackle issues affecting our veterans like improving access to healthcare, investing in workforce training, and ensuring they get the benefits they earned and deserve.

I am proud to have secured millions for the Fresno Veterans Home and Hospital, all of which are critical for our veterans to receive their healthcare. I have fought to address the VA benefits claim backlog and help homeless veterans get the care and shelter they need. Additionally, I authored legislation to expand eligibility for interment in national cemeteries to all Hmong and Lao citizens who fought in support of the United States during the Vietnam War. I will never stop fighting for our veterans. Thanks to our veterans we have the freedoms we get to enjoy today! If you are a veteran and need help with VA benefits, or other federal matters, please contact my office. 

Learn more about veteran services and resources available through my office.

American Rescue Plan

I proudly voted to pass the American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law by President Biden. This law delivered critical support to our veterans and their families recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, including funding for retraining programs, access to healthcare, and address veteran homelessness.

• Prohibited copayments and cost-sharing for preventative treatment or services related to COVID-19 going back to April 2020 and authorized the VA to reimburse those veterans who already submitted payments for their care during this period.

• Provided more than $13 billion for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide health care services and other related supports – including suicide prevention, Women’s health services, telehealth expansion, medical facility improvements.

• Provided nearly $400 million for retraining assistance for veterans who were unemployed as a result of the pandemic and had no access to other veteran education benefits. This funding covered the cost of the rapid retraining program as well as a housing allowance for enrolled veterans.

• Included $272 million for the VA to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the benefits claims and appeals backlog.

• Provided emergency paid sick leave for VA’s frontline and essential health workers.

Addressing Toxic Exposures for All Veterans

Congress promised our service members and their families that we will take care of them. I am proud to have co-sponsored and passed the historic Honoring our PACT Act. This law is expanding healthcare to over 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service.

This is the first time in history that those suffering from exposure to burn pits and airborne hazards will receive healthcare benefits from the VA.  In particular, it provides additional coverage to post 9/11 veterans, K2 veterans, and Vietnam veterans, including those who served in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.

Now millions of American veterans finally have access to the care and benefits they’ve earned and rightfully deserve. If you or someone you know needs to access these benefits, learn more.   

Suicide Prevention and Mental Health

In 2019, the number and the rate of suicide among veterans decreased for the first time in many years. While this was a positive step, as long as 17 veterans die by suicide each day. But our work is not done. My colleagues and I have passed critical legislation to build on our efforts and provide the support our veterans need and deserve.

• STRONG Veterans Act, gives the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) important new authorities and resources to support veterans’ mental health and well-being through increased training, outreach, mental health care delivery, and research.

• REMOVE Copays Act, would remove the financial barrier to VA mental healthcare for enrolled veterans by eliminating all copays for a veteran’s first three outpatient mental health appointments each year.

• EVEST Act, will simplify the transition process and take critical steps toward preventing veteran suicide by automatically enrolling eligible service members in VA healthcare during their transition out of the military.

The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 to help any veteran experiencing a mental health crisis. Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1, or text 838255.

117th Congress - Key Legislation Signed into Law

Congressional Democrats and I have taken action to secure key relief for veterans and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including:

• Special Guerrilla Units (SGU) Service Recognition Expansion Act, bipartisan legislation that expands eligibility for interment in national cemeteries to all Hmong and Lao citizens who fought in support of the United States during the Vietnam War. (Introduced by Rep. Costa and signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022)

• PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act implements a program and a policy related to service dog therapy for veterans. (Co-sponsored by Costa)

• Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish and maintain three new centers of the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) Program in areas with interest from personnel and a need for additional mental health care for rural veterans. (Co-sponsored by Costa)

• Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act directs the VA to create a program that will help actively recruit medical personnel, who are within one year of completing their military service, to remain in federal health care in departments like Veterans Affairs.

• Protecting Moms Who Served Actrequires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement the maternity care coordination program.

• DUMP Opioids Actrequires the VA to designate periods during which any individual may dispose of controlled substances medications at VA medical facilities with an on-site pharmacy or a physical location dedicated for law enforcement purposes.

• Veterans and Family Information Actrequires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make all of its fact sheets available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and each of the 10 most commonly spoken languages not listed, including a publicly available website that provides links to all VA fact sheets.

• REMOTE Actextendsremote learning waivers and ensures that full housing benefits are given to student veterans as schools continue to conduct virtual classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• West Los Angeles VA Campus Improvement Actallows the Department of Veterans Affairs to contribute land-use revenues generated at the West LA VA campus to the development of supportive housing and services for homeless veteran

• VA Transparency & Trust Actrequiresthe Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to regularly report to Congress on emergency COVID-19 relief funding.

• VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Actto increase the maximum salary for nurses and physician assistants (PAs) to help the VA attract and retain top health care talent and ensure veterans receive timely high-quality care. (Enacted as part of the FY 2022 Budget)

• THRIVE Act to strengthenthe COVID-19 Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program created under the American Rescue Plan Act by directing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to facilitate a study determining high-demand occupations.

• FY 2021 Major Medical Facility Authorization Actprovided authorization for the following seven projects for the fiscal year 2021 in California.

  • Realignment and closure of the Livermore Campus in Livermore, California at $455 million;

  • Seismic corrections to the mental health and community living center in Long Beach, California at $367 million;

  • Spinal cord injury building with a community living center and parking garage in San Diego, California at $252 million;

  • Outpatient clinic and national cemetery in Alameda, California at $266 million.