NewsBytes December 8, 2023
In this issue:
FRA Participates in Veterans Roundtable Discussion on Capitol Hill
Protect Disable Veterans
Senator Tuberville Ends Blockade of Most Military Promotions
HVAC Approves 11 Bills
FRA Remembers Pearl Harbor Day
FRA Participates in Veterans Roundtable Discussion on Capitol Hill
NED Phil Reid attended a VSO/MSO roundtable discussion with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY). These roundtable meetings provide an opportunity for VSOs and some key members of Congress to discuss pending legislative issues in an off-the-record setting. Issues that were discussed include the need to enact concurrent receipt reform and the implementation of the recently enacted veteran’s comprehensive toxic exposure law (PACT Act), as well as efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reduce veterans' suicide and homelessness. It was noted at the meeting that additional concurrent receipt reform would likely reduce veterans' suicide and veterans' homelessness.
Members can ask legislators to support the concurrent receipt legislation (Major Richard Star Act HR1282/S. 344) through the FRA Action Center. Please ask your legislators to support this legislation today!
Protect Disabled Veterans
Rep. Chris Pappas (N.H.) and Sen. John Boozman (Ark.) introduced the “GUARD VA Benefits Act” (H.R. 1139/S. 740) in their respective chambers of Congress. The legislation would reinstate penalties for charging veterans and survivors unauthorized fees related to claims for VA benefits.
Unaccredited claims representatives are not subject to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) standards. They strategically advertise their services to avoid regulatory oversight and as a result, may engage in predatory and unethical practices that target veterans and rob them of their VA benefits. Federal laws and regulations prohibit anyone from assisting a veteran in the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of a VA benefit claim, or charging a fee for this assistance, without accreditation from VA's Office of General Counsel. However, VA and other federal agencies are limited in their ability to enforce existing law because explicit criminal penalties were stripped from statute nearly two decades ago. This has contributed to the proliferation of unaccredited claims representatives in recent years. This legislation will discourage companies from operating outside the bounds of federal law and will give VA and other agencies an additional tool to protect veteran claimants from predatory practices.
Please use the FRA Action Center to ask your legislators to support this important legislation at:
https://www.votervoice.net/FRA/Campaigns/103575/Respond
Senator Tuberville Ends Blockade of Most Military Promotions
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (Ala.) announced that he is ending his months-long blockade on more than 430 military promotions. Sen. Tuberville said that he is jumping on board with an idea presented by Sens. Dan Sullivan (Alaska) and Joni Ernst (Iowa) that would release all of his holds on military officers at the 3-star level and below. A hold will remain in place for the roughly ten nominations for 4-star generals and officers.
HVAC Approves 11 Bills
The House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) approved 11 bills that will improve the Transition Assistance Program, bolster veteran and transitioning servicemember mental health initiatives, improve the delivery of education benefits to student veterans, fix the survivor process for veterans living with ALS and their caregivers, and modernize the overall disability claims process. HVAC Chairman Mike Bost (IL.) said, “With the influx of new veterans seeking care, benefits, and services following the passage of the PACT Act last year, it’s more important than ever to make sure this entire VA process is as straightforward and efficient as possible from start to finish. Which is why I am happy to see each of these bills marked up before the end of this year and hope to see them considered in the House very soon.”
The following bills were passed out of the Committee:
H.R. 5938, Veterans Exam Expansion Act (Rep. Ciscomani)
H.R. 5890, Every Veterans Claim Act (Rep. Luttrell)
H.R. 3722, Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act (Rep. Nunn)
H.R. 1753, Jax Act (Rep. Issa)
H.R. 522, Deliver for Veterans Act (Del. Moylan)
H.R. 3738, To establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration (Rep. Wenstrup)
H.R. 5914, To improve educational assistance programs at the VA (Rep. Van Orden)
H.R. 5785, Edith Nourse Rodger’s STEM Scholarship Opportunity Act (Rep. Budzinski)
H.R. 3790, Justice for ALS Veterans Act (Rep. Slotkin)
H.R. 4016, Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act (Rep. Connolly)
H.R. 4190, Restoring Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act (Rep. Trone)
These proposals will now proceed to the House floor for further consideration.
FRA Remembers Pearl Harbor Day
FRA National President John Handzuk and National Executive Director Phillip Reid attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Navy Memorial in honor of Pearl Harbor. In case you missed it, you can watch the recording of the Pearl Harbor Day Wreath Laying by clicking here.
On November 15th, 2023, shipmates of FRA Branch 230, including Don Goard, JrPP Br 230; Bill Hanzel, President Br 230, and Nancy Goard, Unit 230, presented a letter of appreciation to LCDR Louis Conter, the last living survivor of the USS Arizona. This heartfelt gesture served as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by our brave sailors and the importance of preserving their legacy for generations to come. Both acts of remembrance at Pearl Harbor serve as a testament to the unwavering dedication and gratitude of the FRA towards its members and the nation's maritime history.