House Defends Veterans

Press Release

Congressman Scott Rigell (VA-02), a consistent advocate for our active duty and veteran service members, supported six bills this week that will improve veterans' access to workforce reintegration and housing programs, protect veteran-owned small businesses, and provide incentives for companies that hire veterans. The bills, many of which enjoy broad bipartisan support, passed in the House and will be considered by the Senate next.

Rigell, who represents the congressional district with the highest concentration of men and women in uniform in the country, said: "We made a promise to provide for our service members and their families, protect their health, and give them opportunities to find jobs - long after their service is complete. I'm proud that the House has acted once again to defend these men and women and ensure their needs are our top priority."

About the bills:

H.R. 91 - Veteran's I.D. Card Act: Would allow all veterans to receive official identification cards through the VA, including those who were discharged under honorable conditions. Currently, veteran identification cards are issued to veterans who have either completed the statutory time-in-service requirement for retirement from the Armed Forces or who have received a medical-related discharge from the Armed Forces. A veteran who has served a minimum obligated time-in-service does not receive any means of identifying themselves as a veteran other than their official discharge paperwork. The veteran identification card would contain a photograph and the name of the veteran and an identification number that is different from their social security number. The secretary would charge a fee to each veteran obtaining a card.

H.R. 474 - Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act of 2015: Would reauthorize the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP), which provides services to assist reintegrating homeless veterans into employment.

H.R. 1038 - Ensuring VA Employee Accountability Act: Would require all reprimands and admonishments to remain in a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee's file as long as they are an employee of the Department, thus creating more accountability and transparency throughout an employee's tenure at the VA. Under the current policy for VA personnel, an "admonishment" can only remain in an employee's file for two years, and a "reprimand" can only remain on an employee's file for three years, after which they are permanently removed.

H.R. 1313 - Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Relief Act: Would allow for the surviving spouse of a service-disable veteran--who acquired ownership rights of a small business owned by the deceased veteran--to maintain the status of the small business as one controlled by a veteran. Under current law, when the veteran and small business owner passes away, the surviving family members and business owners are not guaranteed any time to transition away from Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) status, putting the businesses in jeopardy of losing any federal contracts they might have.

H.R. 1382 - Boosting Rates of American Veteran Employment Act: Would allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to give preference in awarding contracts for the procurement of goods and services to businesses that employ veterans on a full time basis.

H.R. 1816 - Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act of 2015: Would amend current law and end the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) policy of counting the aid and attendance benefit for low-income, disabled veterans as regular income.

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