National Advocacy Watch

Elizabeth Dole Home and Community Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act (H.R. 542/S. 141)

This important act would make urgently needed improvements to VA's home and community-based services (HCBS).

Air Carrier Access Amendments Act (H.R. 1267/S. 545)

Actions to improve passengers with disabilities' air travel experience.

Expanding Veterans’ Options for Long Term Care Act (S. 495).

The bill would allow eligible veterans much needed options for assisted living care through a pilot program. The program would be conducted at six Veteran Integrated Services Networks (VISNs) nationwide, two of which will be in rural areas and two State Veterans Homes.

Caring for Survivors Act (H.R. 1083/S. 414)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to qualified survivors of service members and veterans.

Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 1282/S. 344)

This act would ensure that medically retired, combat-injured veterans are not subjected to an offset and that they are able to receive their full military retired pay as well as their Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation.

Social Security Enhancement and Protection Act (H.R. 671)

This act will protect people from retiring into poverty, ensure that benefits will enable beneficiaries to meet common expenses, and give benefits to students whose working parent has died, become disabled, or retired.

S.10, the VA CAREERS Act.

VA staffing shortfalls continue to have a direct, adverse impact on the department's spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) system of care. Despite aggressive hiring practices during the pandemic and recent congressional approval to raise pay caps for key personnel, low staffing levels persist throughout the SCI/D system of care.