Walberg, House Pass Bipartisan Veterans Bills

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-07) supported a series of seven bipartisan bills passed by the House of Representatives this week to improve veterans' benefits and access to quality health care. Included in the legislative package was H.R. 1329, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, which ensures our nation's disabled veterans receive the same annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) as Social Security recipients.

"We owe immeasurable gratitude to our nation's veterans, and these bills reflect a continued bipartisan commitment to the heroes who served our country," said Congressman Walberg. "Providing a cost-of-living adjustment for disability compensation is a particularly important step to ensure veterans and their families receive the benefits they deserve. As we approach Memorial Day, and pay tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, it is a fitting way to honor their memory and keep our promise to care for our nation's veterans."

Background on the bills passed this week:

H.R. 467, VA Scheduling Accountability Act
Requires VA medical center directors to certify annually that their facility is in compliance with the scheduling directive (or any successor directive that replaces it), prohibit VA from waiving certification, and require VA to report to Congress on individual medical facilities' compliance.

H.R. 1005, To improve the provision of adult day health care services for veterans
Directs the VA to enter into an agreement or a contract with state veterans homes to pay for adult day health care for a veteran eligible for, but not receiving, nursing home care.

H.R. 1162, No Hero Left Untreated Act
Requires the VA to carry out a one-year pilot program at up to two VA medical facilities to provide access to magnetic EEG/EKG-guided resonance therapy to veterans with PTSD, TBI, MST, chronic pain or opiate addiction for up to 50 veterans.

H.R. 1329, Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act
Increases the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities as well as the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans as of December 1st, 2017.

H.R. 1545, VA Prescription Data Accountability Act
Clarifies current law to stipulate that VHA is required to disclose information to state controlled substance monitoring programs for anyone – veteran or non-veteran – who is prescribed these medications through VA.

H.R. 1725, The Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act
Seeks to reduce the number of unnecessary disability examinations by requiring additional information be provided to Congress regarding VA's use of private medical evidence in support of claims for disability compensation.

H.R. 2288, Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act
Modernizes the appeals process by creating three "lanes" for veterans' appeals, including the "Local Higher Level Review Lane" in which an adjudicator reviews the same evidence considered by the original claims processor; the "New Evidence Lane," in which the veteran could submit new evidence for review and have a hearing; and the "Board Lane," in which jurisdiction for the appeal would transfer immediately to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.