Bills to Help Vets Readjust Approved

Subcommittee Approves Legislation to Help Veterans Readjust After Military Deployments

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, June 26, 2008, the House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee led by Chairwoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD), approved nine bills that would help veterans and members of the Armed Forces upon their return from military deployment. 

Chairwoman Herseth-Sandlin offered the following statement: “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the full Committee and this Congress so that we can better meet the needs of servicemembers and veterans as they seek to readjust to life after military service.”

The following bills were reported favorably to the full Committee:

1.   H.R. 4255, as amended – United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program Act of 2007 

The bill would authorize the VA to make a grant to the United States Olympic Committee to provide and develop activities for servicemembers and veterans with physical disabilities.

2.   H.R. 2910, as amended – The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act of 2007

The bill would amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to protect the student servicemember by capping interest at six percent during deployments, require institutes of higher learning to refund tuition and fees for unearned credit, and in addition, guarantee our servicemembers a place when they return to school.  This bill would also provide a servicemember 13 months to begin paying their student loans after an activation should they decide not to return to school immediately.

3.    H.R. 2721, as amended -

The bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop, and the Secretary of Defense to distribute to members of the Armed Forces upon their discharge or release from active duty, information in a compact disk read-only memory format that lists and explains the health, education, and other benefits for which veterans are eligible under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

4.    H.R. 6070, as amended – Military Spouses Residency Relief Act

The bill would amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to allow a military spouse to claim the same state as the service member in regards to state and property taxes, and voter registration. (Rep. Carter)

5.    H.R. 3298 – 21st Century Servicemembers Protection Act

The bill would amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to cover service contracts to allow our men and women in uniform with deployment orders to more easily terminate or suspend their service contracts without fee or penalty. (Rep. Patrick Murphy)

6.    H.R. 6272 – SMOCTA Reauthorization Act of 2008

The bill would assist veterans in obtaining meaningful employment after their military service by reimbursing employers to offset their cost of training recently separated servicemembers that could lead to permanent employment. (Rep. Welch)

7.    H.R. 6221 – Veteran Owned Small Business Protection and Clarification Act of 2008.  

The bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include in each contract the Secretary enters for the acquisition of goods and services a provision that requires the contractee to comply with the contracting goals and preferences for small business concerns owned or controlled by veterans.

8.    H.R. 6225 – Injunctive Relief for Veterans Act of 2008.

The bill would ensure that equitable relief is available to all Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) victims when appropriate. 

9.    H.R. 6224 – Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2008.

This bill would direct the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot project to expand on existing work-study activities for veterans.  Currently, veterans that qualify for work-study would be limited to working on VA related work.  H.R. 6224 would allow those veterans the option of working in academic departments and student services.  This change would put them at par with students that qualify for a work-study position under programs not administered by the VA.

Write you public officials to let them know if you feel strongly about any of these bills.