Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3819, the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017.

H.R. 3819 would extend a number of authorities impacting veterans' benefits, health, and homeless programs. Swift passage of this legislation today would ensure that many programs that veterans, their caregivers, dependents, and survivors rely on continue. We must continue these programs.

Mr. Speaker, the programs include nursing home care, support services for caregivers, transportation, child care assistance, adaptive sports programs, and housing and home loan services, to name just a few. So important. Again, these are not new programs, but they are so very important to our true heroes.

The costs associated with them have been assumed in the House-passed appropriations bill for fiscal year 2018 and 2019 advance appropriation.

One program that has been extended for just 5 additional months, until January 6, 2018, is the assisted living pilot program for veterans with traumatic brain injury. That short extension would allow extra time for the VA to fully transition the veterans currently participating in that program into other existing programs more suitable for their ongoing support and rehabilitation.

H.R. 3819 would also make a number of technical corrections to the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017.

This bill was drafted by and has full bipartisan support of both the majority and the minority Veterans' Affairs Committee members of the House and the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3819 today, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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