Glenn Nye Attends Signing Of Veterans' Health Care Bill At The White House

Press Release

Congressman Glenn Nye (VA-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Veterans Affairs Committee, fought hard to pass legislation to enable the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to plan ahead for the needs of America's veterans -- and today Nye was at White House when President Obama signed that bill into law.

"The commitment of our men and women in uniform does not stop at the end of the fiscal year, nor do the needs of our veterans. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines stand ready to defend our nation whenever they are called upon, and we can plan for the future security of the United States because we know that our troops will be there. We owe them that same commitment in return. I was proud to sponsor this law, which will help ensure that our veterans receive their benefits on time, and it will allow the VA to plan ahead to meet the needs of the new veterans returning home every day from Iraq and Afghanistan," said Congressman Glenn Nye.

The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act (H.R. 1016) was passed by the House of Representatives on October 7th. Nye was a cosponsor of the bill, and during debate, he spoke on the floor of the House urging his colleagues to join him in supporting advance appropriations for the VA.

Endorsed by veterans' organizations including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans as "an historic legislative victory on behalf of all veterans," the new law authorizes Congress to approve investments in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care one year in advance, and requires the President to request those funds one year in advance.

The bill will help ensure that any delays in passing the federal budget do not hinder veterans' medical care. Last year was the first time in 12 years in which the veterans' appropriations bill was enacted on time. So far this year, the House passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill on time, but the Senate has not yet completed action on the bill.

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