Three Fischer Bills For Vets, Gold Star Families, Military, Pass Senate

Statement

Yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed three bills sponsored by U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.). They include the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act, the Gold Star Spouses Leasing Relief Act, and an amendment to the Service Members Civil Relief Act. The legislation now heads to President Trump's desk to be signed into law. Fischer released the following statement regarding passage of the bills:

"These are important solutions that will better serve our nation's veterans, Gold Star Families, and service members. They address a number of issues, including helping veterans navigate the VA bureaucracy when they receive accidental payments and owe money back. We're also providing relief to our Gold Star Families by giving them the option to terminate residential leases after losing a spouse in service to our country. And for current members of the military, we are shielding them from TV and internet cancellation fees when they are deployed -- the last thing they should have to worry about while preparing for active duty."

Under the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would partner with Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) to create a new notice of indebtedness letter that explains why an individual owes alleged debts. The letter would also include steps the veteran can take to challenge or mitigate the debt. In addition, the VA would be directed to create a method to notify individuals of their debt electronically.

The Gold Star Spouses Leasing Relief Act would allow a widow or widower of a service member who died while in military service to terminate a jointly held residential lease, without penalty, within one year of the service member's death.

Under existing law, service members may break cellphone contracts, car leases, and other contractual agreements without penalty if they are relocating or deploying on official orders. The Cantwell-Fischer service members cable and internet service termination provision, adopted from S. 624, extends the same relief to ensure military service members are not charged cancellation fees for pay TV and internet services when they deploy or change duty stations.

Source