Congressional Democrats have taken meaningful action on several issues and bills in recent weeks. Let’s have a brief look at some of them.

H.R. 7375 – important legislation for the overseas-based student veterans and military families  community who are currently facing barriers in using their GI Bill educational benefits passed the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on April 6th. This bill, finally, would oblige the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) to update its pitifully-outdated electronic payment system within 90 days of enactment so that foreign universities could receive electronic tuition payments, and thus allow student veterans, once again, to enroll without problems and start, continue or complete their education programs.

H.R. 3967, the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, or the Honoring Our PACT Act, passed the House of Representatives on March 3rd and is currently awaiting consideration by the Senate. This is the landmark legislation which casts the widest net in establishing the presumption that certain illnesses, diseases, and injuries are service-connected since they result from exposure, during a period of service in the military, to toxic substances such as radiation, contaminated water, or agent orange. If passed by the Senate, affected veterans will be able to claim the VA health care benefits they need to address their medical needs. Click here to see how your U.S. representative voted.

Of note: The VA’s Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission report has made recommendations to Congress on the closure of certain medical centers and outpatient clinics, VA’s Manila Regional Office and Outpatient Clinic: This is the only VA medical facility located outside of the 50 states and U.S. territories that was not included in the Commission’s closure report, and therefore will remain open and continue providing services to service-connected veterans living in the Philippines and elsewhere.

We should be pleased about:

• the investigation of veterans’ involvement in extremist acts,
• holding VA accountable for short-changing veterans in its caregivers program,
• closely tracking VA’s AIR Commission recommendations for restructuring medical facilities, etc.

YES, much work is being done to address the needs of veterans and military families.

BUT the VMF Caucus needs you to help our legislative advocacy by:

• Contacting the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and both of your U.S. senators to urge them to SUPPORT H.R. 3967.
• Contacting your U.S. representative to urge her/him to SUPPORT H.R. 7375.
• Contacting the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee to say thank you for passing H.R. 7375. Click here or call +1-202-225-9756
• Contacting the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee to SUPPORT reforming VA’s Foreign Medical Program. Click here or call +1-202-225-9756

Aviator Cancer Bill Would Push VA to Study Toxins Inhaled by Air Crews and Assess Links to Cancers  Just like the fighter pilots they supported, many troops who fueled, armed, and maintained warplanes have been diagnosed with cancer.  A new bill introduced this month would require the VA to identify cancer incidences throughout the aviation community, as well as what toxins were involved, and whether there could be a link between their illness and cancer.