Engel Votes for Veterans Legislation

Press Release

ENGEL VOTES FOR VETERANS LEGISLATION

Congressman Eliot Engel joined his Congressional colleagues in unanimously passing three pieces of legislation that helps veterans with medical care, cost of living adjustments, and improving Veterans Affairs facilities.

Rep. Engel said, "I have continually worked to keep the promise made by our government to the men and women who served our nation. This week Congress passed, without dissent, three measures which will help veterans, and I was pleased to support them."

The first, the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act (H.R. 3819), would require the VA to reimburse private hospitals for treating a veteran when there is no room for a patient at a VA hospital. Currently, when a veteran needs emergency medical treatment, the VA allows that veteran to go to the nearest hospital. Once stabilized, he must be transferred to a VA hospital for any necessary continued care.

The problem arises when there is a wait for a bed in a VA hospital. Current law does not require the VA to reimburse the private hospital for care and this bill would simply close that loophole and require the VA to reimburse the private hospital for care.

The bill passed May 21st by a 412-0 vote.

The second bill, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act (H.R. 5826) increases the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities, and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans. The bill also passed May 21st by a 417-0 vote.

The third measure, said Rep. Engel, while not directly affecting the 17th Congressional District, helps veterans across the country by authorizing money for renovations of VA facilities in California, Texas, Puerto Rico. It also authorizes increases in money for VA facilities in New Orleans, Denver, Florida, and Las Vegas. And it authorizes leases for VA facilities in Florida, Colorado, South Carolina, Oregon, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Arizona, Wisconsin, Georgia, and California. The measure was approved May 21st by a 416-0.

Rep. Engel said, "I voted for this legislation as well as for the Expanded GI Benefits for Veterans Education Act to keep the promise we made to our fighting men and women. As we celebrate Memorial Day, we should pause and reflect on the sacrifices of the men and women of our armed forces. They stood for us, now we must stand by them"

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