September 21, 2016

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Advances 11 Bipartisan Bills to Benefit Veterans and their Families

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs voted to advance nearly a dozen pieces of bipartisan legislation designed to improve veterans’ healthcare, support veterans’ families, and help student veterans access a quality and affordable education.

“The bipartisan spirit of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, which was on display this morning, is critical to moving legislation that will enhance our support for veterans and their families,” said Acting Ranking Member Takano. “I thank Chairman Miller and all of my colleagues on the Committee for working together to advance the legislation considered today, and I look forward to continuing our work together on behalf of the men and women who bravely served our nation.”

The 11 pieces of legislation advanced by the Committee include:

  • H.R. 4150, The Department of Veterans Affairs Emergency Medical Staffing Recruitment and Retention Act, which was introduced by Congressman Ruiz (D-Calif.) to give VA medical staff more flexibility to schedule their hours efficiently;
  • H.R. 5162, The Vet Connect Act of 2016, which was introduced by Congressman O’Rourke (D-Texas) to allow VA to share health information with a veteran’s non-VA doctor to improve care coordination; and
  • H.R. 5047, the Protecting Veterans’ Educational Choice Act of 2016, which is sponsored by Congressman Hice (R-Ga.) and cosponsored by Acting Ranking Member Takano. It will increase the information available to student veterans to help them make more informed decisions about their education, particularly regarding the rules governing the transfer of credits between schools. 

A full list of legislation advanced today is available on the Committee website.

###