Hartzler Supports Veterans Measures, in Advance of Memorial Day

Statement

This week leading up to Memorial Day Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-04) supported multiple bills to protect veterans and enhance their care. In totality, the House supported nine bills to protect these American heroes.

"We owe our veterans the very best when it comes to health care," Hartzler said. "I was pleased this week to support multiple bills which ensure those who have served us receive the services they deserve when they come home. Legislation I supported this week includes a bill to allowing those who serve during a national emergency to access mental health services at the VA. Another bill authorizes grants for transition services for those who are transferring out of the military into civilian life, and another studies how effective the VA's approach to suicide prevention is using designated coordinators. Lastly, we addressed the concern with veterans' benefits not keeping up with cost-of-living (COLA) adjustments by tying their benefits to the COLA of Social Security recipients, so every retiree receives equal treatment."

"I am proud to support these bills." Hartzler said, "I look forward to them becoming law upon Senate passage."

The House supported, among other veterans bills, the following:

H.R. 1812, the Vet Center Eligibility Expansion Act, allows additional veterans and service members, including those who served during a national emergency, to qualify to receive counseling at community-based Veterans Affairs Department facilities;

H.R. 2326, the Navy Seal Petty Officer William Bill Mulder (Ret.) Transition Improvement Act of 2019, authorizes grants to support the provision of counseling and information to prepare service members who are leaving the military for civilian life;

H.R. 2333, the Support for Suicide Prevention Coordinators Act, directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to assess the support it provides suicide prevention coordinators and evaluate the coordinators' responsibilities, workload, training, and vacancy rates; and

H.R. 1200, the Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2019, implements a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for veteran benefits that is reflective of the COLA that Social Security recipients receive in 2020.

Source