NewsBytes August 21, 2020
FRA Participates in Virtual Press Conference
FRA Supports Veterans Re-Training Legislation
Disabled Veterans Housing Bill Is Now Law
VA to Bring Back Volunteers
FRA Participates in Virtual Press Conference
Rep. Josh Harder (Calif.) along with the FRA, several other organizations, and local Vietnam War veterans who are battling bladder cancer participated in a virtual press conference to announce the launch of a final effort to expand coverage for veterans exposed to Agent Orange but who are unable to access support from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Rep. Harder is kicking off an effort to support the inclusion of these benefits in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Earlier this year, Rep. Harder introduced the FRA-supported Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act (H.R.5610), which would ensure Vietnam Veterans with bladder cancer, certain thyroid problems, and Parkinson’s like symptoms get access to the program through the VA. Veterans have been unable to get automatic access to benefits for those related illnesses through the VA, despite comprehensive scientific evidence linking the illnesses to exposure. The provisions of the bill were approved in the Senate as an amendment to the Senate version of the annual must-pass NDAA. To become law, the amendment must now be included in the final version of the legislation that will be negotiated and passed before the year’s end. This issue is listed on the FRA Action Center and Shipmates are strongly urged to contact their representatives on this issue.
FRA Supports Veterans Re-Training Legislation
The FRA has signed onto a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) to give serious consideration to incorporating the language of the Veteran Economic Recovery Act (H.R.7111) and (S.3899) in the next stimulus package.
Prior to the pandemic, the economy was strong and veteran unemployment numbers were at their lowest rates in almost two decades. Now, the number of unemployed veterans has tripled, and more than 776,000 veterans are currently out of work. Fourteen percent of veterans are currently working in the top five industries most impacted by COVID-19, and it is estimated that up to 42 percent of jobs lost to COVID-19 will not return.
This FRA supported legislation would help reopen the American economy and ensure unemployed veterans have access to programs to help them get meaningful careers in the new economy. Provisions in this these bills would help 35,000 veterans between the ages of 25 and 60 who are not eligible for the GI Bill get rapid retraining for in-demand occupations by authorizing a COVID-19 veteran retraining program. This legislation also includes additional funds for the VET Tec pilot program, which helps veterans and transitioning servicemembers train for jobs in high tech and coding careers.
These bills are listed on the FRA Action Center and Shipmates are strongly encouraged to contact their legislators on this issue.
President Signs Disabled Veterans Housing Bill into Law
President Donald Trump recently signed into law the FRA-supported Ryan Kules and Paul Benne Specialty Adaptive Housing Improvement Act (H.R.3504), sponsored by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (Fla.). The act will provide improvements to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) program by expanding the number of grants awarded from 30 to 150 per year, increasing the dollar amount by 15 percent of the individual grants, and expanding the number of times disabled veterans can use a housing grant. These changes will help certain severely disabled veterans purchase adaptive homes or upgrade existing homes to meet their specific needs for daily living activities.
The VA Begins to Bring Back Volunteers
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has recently announced that it will slowly and safely reinstate volunteers into its health care facilities. Most volunteer activities have been paused to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Some of the volunteer activity may be modified or done virtually. Each VA facility will tailor the restoration of volunteers based on the facilities’ operational needs and the volunteers’ abilities. For more information on VA voluntary service go online.
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