House Clears Veterans Legislative Package

Press Release

Earlier this week, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) voted on the House Floor to pass a suite of bills to strengthen the benefits and care that veterans and their loved ones rely on. The package, containing five separate proposals, passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support.

"Since the first day I was sworn into Congress three years ago, I've worked to ensure every veteran and their family have access to the benefits and services they're owed. We've worked to cut through red tape at the VA, get care for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits, and help vets get the disability benefits they deserve," said Congresswoman Trahan. "Passage of this legislative package will build on that progress to make sure we're not only getting these heroes their benefits but doing so in a timely fashion. I look forward to working with our Senators to ensure each of these bills makes it across the finish line.

The pieces of legislation passed include:

The Wounded Warrior Access Act: The legislation requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create a website for veterans or their representative to make records requests regarding their VA claims and benefits. The VA would have no more than 120 days to fulfill the request.

The Veterans' Compensation Cost of Living Adjustment Act: The bill requires the VA to increase payments for wartime disability compensation, dependent compensation, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. The legislation would require the increased amounts to match the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment that becomes effective on December 1, 2022.

The Faster Payments to Veterans Survivors' Act: The legislation improves VA processes for processing life insurance benefits families are owed after a veteran passes and includes specific provisions to identify and assist hard-to-find relatives. The proposal will shorten the wait period for spouses and children of veterans to receive the benefits they are owed.

The Improving Access to the VA Home Loan Benefit Act: The bill directs the VA to update its appraisal requirements for VA home loans, conduct an internal review of home loan approval delays, and make necessary changes to expedite the review process for VA home loan applications.

The Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act: The legislation strengthens and continues a number of key programs for veterans seeking to continue their education or enter the workforce, including support for veterans in remote learning, expanding the veteran readiness and employment program so veterans have more access to self-employment training, and protects servicemembers from having their utility services cut while deployed.

All five pieces of legislation passed with near unanimous support and move to the Senate for consideration.

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