Ensign Votes to Improve Benefits for Disabled Veterans in U.S.

Press Release

ENSIGN VOTES TO IMPROVE BENEFITS FOR DISABLED VETERANS IN U.S.

Senator John Ensign voted today to provide additional funding and resources to help our veterans readjust to civilian life after their service to our country. When he was a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Ensign helped author this legislation and included language that improves an impractical life insurance benefit for troops who lose a hand during their service.

"Our veterans stood up to protect us, to protect our freedom and to protect our future," said Ensign. "After our young men and women serve our country, we must make sure we fulfill our promise—the benefits they earned through selfless sacrifice to our country."

Ensign supported the Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act, which passed today and increases assistance to help severely disabled veterans modify their homes to better accommodate their disabilities with improvements such as wheelchair ramps and accessible bathrooms. Burial benefits would increase for families of veterans who die due to service-related conditions.

Ensign inserted a provision that clarifies veterans' insurance benefits to consider the loss of a dominant hand versus a non-dominant hand.

"The current benefit system provides the same assistance without considering whether it is a soldier's dominant hand," said Ensign. "If a soldier is right handed and he loses his right hand, the VA should recognize that as an added hardship. Although no benefit will be adequate, the VA should provide additional resources in these cases."

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