Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2024

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for S. 2513, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act.

I thank Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Luttrell and Ranking Member Pappas for working in a bipartisan manner on the House companion to this package, which passed this body in September of last year. I also commend Representative Ciscomani and Representative McGarvey for their contributions to this bill.

Mr. Speaker, this bill makes several important changes that will help to streamline the medical disability exam process for veterans. It will also help to strengthen recruitment, hiring, and retention at the Board of Veterans' Appeals by creating a new internship program for law students and will expand the reimbursement programs for current employees to include student loans, professional development activities, bar exam fees, and dues.

Mr. Speaker, this bill also increases by one the number of temporary judges appointed to the Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims, allowing the court to process cases faster and grant veterans and survivors the relief they deserve.

Unfortunately, this is a much-pared-back provision from the version originally considered by the House last year. This bill languished because Senate Republicans refused to expand the court, albeit on a temporary basis, until this moment. How curious.

Nevertheless, I do support this expansion, and I hope that we can do more in the future. I support S. 2513, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing S. 2513, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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