September 14, 2016

House Passes Vital Legislation to Extend Veterans’ Programs, Address Veterans’ Homelessness, and Protect Student Veterans

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Acting Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, applauded the House for passing two key pieces of legislation this week that will provide care and support to the veterans’ community.

The West Los Angeles Leasing Act of 2016, H.R. 5936, will resolve the long struggle over the West Los Angeles VA campus to ensure it meaningfully supports the veterans’ community in Southern California for years to come. In doing so, it will establish a model for how to provide services to homeless veterans or those in danger of homelessness.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2016, H.R.5985, will extend funding for vital programs veterans depend on every day, ensuring they will not go interrupted when the fiscal year comes to an end. The extension package provides for specific programs related to support services for caregivers, child care for certain veterans receiving health care, and a pilot program on counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service, as well as several programs to address homelessness.

In addition, the bill provides the Department of Veterans’ Affairs flexibility to help student veterans negatively affected when their college or university loses its accreditation. It is a direct and necessary response to the Department of Education’s pending decision to withdraw its recognition of Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. If the decision is finalized, more than 35,000 veterans would be at risk of losing access to their GI Bill benefits – including their housing benefits. This legislation would give them 18 months to seek an accredited school before their benefits are cut off. 

“I am incredibly gratified to see both Democrats and Republicans come together to recognize important issues affecting veterans and then address those issues in a thoughtful and bipartisan manner,” Rep Takano said. “I offer my sincere thanks to the Majority for allowing the clean passage of this veterans’ legislation. Every day, millions of veterans depend on the well-deserved benefits offered to them through the VA, and through these pieces of legislation, Members on both sides of the aisle are putting care for veterans ahead of politics.

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