Dependable Employment and Living Improvements for Veterans Economic Recovery Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I stand in full support of H.R. 7105, and I am proud to be the sponsor of several provisions included in today's veterans' omnibus bill.

The first is a provision that would modernize the Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance program by increasing the maximum coverage from $10,000 to $40,000; ensuring that veterans cannot be denied coverage for any preexisting condition; removing the requirement that veterans apply for coverage within 2 years of receiving an award of service connection; and requiring premiums to cover the long-term cost of the program, like the VA has with other life insurance programs.

Once the modernization program goes into effect, the outdated program would be sunset for new applicants.

Another provision of mine will authorize a pilot program to extend license portability to certain nonphysician providers who perform disability exams under contract with the VA. As a result, contract vendors will be able to schedule a veteran's exam sooner. This is critical, as the VBA focuses its efforts on reducing the backlogs of disability exams that has been caused by the pandemic.

Additionally, this bill will address a problem that occurred when a veteran has a change in their dependency status, but the VA does not take immediate action to reduce the veteran's benefits payments. As a result, the veteran may incur an overpayment that the veteran must pay back. My provision would allow a veteran to remove their dependent from their award through eBenefits within 60 days of the veteran's input and without VA approval.

This package also includes another one of my bills, H.R. 7445, which would expand eligibility for VA home loans programs to certain members of the National Guard and Reserve.

Mr. Speaker, it is only right and logical that members of the National Guard and Reserve who perform Federal Active Duty be given the same benefits as their full-time Active Duty counterparts.

Before I close, I would like to thank Ranking Member Roe for his leadership on the committee these past 4 years, both as ranking member and as chairman. He has done a great job of representing the veterans of this Nation and making sure that his focus and the committee's focus is kept on what is best for them.

I want to thank him for how he treats and works with each member of the staff, as well as each Member, to guide us through. Remember, under his guidance, we have enacted several pieces of legislative accomplishments, including appeals reform, the MISSION Act, and the Forever GI Bill.

Now, as the full committee ranking member, I hope to follow in his footsteps, and I hope I can do him proud and continue our work to improve benefits and services for our veterans and their families.

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