Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 3819, which reauthorizes several essential veterans' programs that support the men and women who have served our Nation. These programs include assistance and support services for caregivers who so often make profound sacrifices to support their loved ones, grants to our vital veterans service organizations so they can continue providing transportation for rural veterans to help connect them with the services they need, and programs to reintegrate homeless veterans which offer opportunities for meaningful employment and address the complex challenges they face.

This bill reauthorizes specialized counseling for women veterans.

This is particularly important in light of the stunning VA report released this month which showed that female veterans are six times more likely to die by suicide than any other women.

These programs are fundamental to the well-being of our veterans and their families, and they are a reflection of our gratitude to those who serve.

In addition, this legislation makes important technical changes that will allow us to follow through on the promises of the new GI Bill, which we passed unanimously earlier this year. Specifically, H.R. 3819 allows us to correct the perverse incentives that discourage veterans from attending local community colleges and universities, which is a provision I worked on with my Republican colleague, Congressman Paul Cook.
It also allows for the restoration of benefits for veterans left stranded by the abrupt closure of for-profit colleges, which I championed with Republican Luke Messer.

After the closures of ITT Tech and Corinthian Colleges, student veterans in my district and across the country were left with nontransferable credits, depleted benefits, and none of the job opportunities that they were promised. By restoring their tuition and housing benefits, we are restoring a measure of justice for these veterans and restoring their opportunity to get the education they deserve and earned.

Taken together, the reauthorization of vital programs and the technical fixes included in this bill should earn the support of every Member.

I want to thank Chairman Roe, Ranking Member Walz, and my colleagues on the Veterans' Affairs Committee for ensuring that veterans can continue to rely on these critical programs, and I am once again grateful for the bipartisanship that has defined our work on behalf of America's veterans.

In closing, I want to note that yesterday was Gold Star Mothers and Families Day, and while today we are taking action to support our veterans, we must also remember the men and women who never made it home.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage all of my colleagues to support this must-pass legislation.

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