President Joe Biden has signed the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act into law, which Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), who introduced the bill, celebrated in a recent statement, saying he was "grateful" for its signage and looks forward to "continuing to work with the [Veterans Affairs] Committee and the incoming administration to deliver for our veterans, their caregivers, and families."
American Legion described the landmark bill, which "enhances and reforms the delivery of services by prioritizing veterans, their families, their caregivers, and their survivors" and includes provisions such as Representative Scott Franklin's (R-FL) Servicemember Employment Protection Act, which builds upon the existing Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
In his press release, Rep. Ciscomani thanked House Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Mike Bost (R-IL) and the various veterans' organizations "for their work getting this much-needed bill across the finish line."
"The brave men and women who answered duty's call to serve our nation are patriots of the highest order and deserve a VA that is able to deliver the support and benefits their service earned. The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act delivers for our veterans by reforming and modernizing the VA, streamlining the delivery of benefits and care, whether at the VA or at home, expanding access to job training and employment opportunities, promoting access to housing for homeless veterans, and supporting veteran's families and caregivers. I am grateful to Chairman Bost and all the veteran-serving organizations and stakeholders for their work getting this much-needed bill across the finish line, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Committee and the incoming administration to deliver for our veterans, their caregivers, and families," Rep. Ciscomani's full statement read.
Additionally, Rep. Bost added, "The men and women who have served have earned access to a VA that puts them – not government bureaucracy – at the center of its operations. The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act will do exactly that. From expanding job training opportunities for transitioning service members and veterans to improving mental health care for caregivers, to protecting veterans' healthcare options for day-to-day services to more elderly care options, and much more in between – I know this legislation will make a difference for veterans and their families. I want to thank the over 40 organizations – including veteran service organizations and key stakeholders – for their good fight in getting this vitally important bill to the president's desk. I look forward to working with the Trump administration to make sure that the Dole Act is implemented properly and quickly to meet its mission for veterans and their families."
