August 5th the Senate Veterans’ Affair’s Committee had a hearing on 14 bi-partisan bills that they are hoping to present to the full Senate.  2 are being held for a September hearing so that the remaining 12 can be sent on to a full Senate vote.  Although all of these bills are important, I have highlighted the bills that pertain to VA Pension Planning.

These bills include:

S.2558 Nursing Home Care for Native American Veterans Act

This bill expands eligibility for grants that provide per diem funding to state nursing homes for veterans to include veterans homes established by Native American tribes.

S.2950 Veteran Burn Pit Exposure Recognition Act of 2020

To amend title 38, United States Code, to concede exposure to airborne hazards and toxins from burn pits under certain circumstances, and for other purposes.

The Senate Veterans’ Affair’s Committee has had multiple hearings on burn pit victims and this is not the first time this bill has been sent to the Senate.  I do not expect this bill to pass the Senate as it has failed to do so multiple times.

S.4384 K2 Toxic Exposure Study   Learn more behind this story by clicking on the bill name.

S.4393 Toxic Exposure in The American Military Act (TEAM Act) 
Legislation that fundamentally reforms and improves how veterans exposed to toxic substances receive health care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Postponed until September calendar while committee continue to work on this bill.

So what will this bill do for our Veterans?

• Expand health care access to veterans for illnesses related to toxic exposures.
• Permanent reauthorization of Section 1116 of Title 38.
• Establish a commission to review presumptive disabilities caused by toxic exposures.
• Provide veterans online access to their individual longitudinal exposure record.
• Require VA to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study the impact of toxic exposures in humans.
• Create a toxic exposures questionnaire to be administered during VA primary care visits.
• Use the National Artificial Intelligence Institute to identify high risk groups by comparing VA health records and DoD exposure records.
• Establish a list of resources for care for veterans exposed to toxic substances.

“The TEAM coalition has made great strides since we launched this effort last June, and we’re all very proud of the work we have done collectively,” said Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) CEO Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Linnington. “We’re honored to stand alongside Sen. Tillis and others, who are championing this necessary reform to help those coping with these specific wounds of war.”

The TEAM coalition formed last year to track data and advocate for legislation related to harmful environmental exposures during military service. WWP has supported this effort as an organizer and advocate, partnering with 29 member organizations to craft legislation and find solutions on behalf of the thousands of veterans affected by chemical and toxic exposures.

Supporting the TEAM coalition are Jon Stewart, former Daily Show host and comedian, and John Feal, longtime advocate for 9/11 first responders and founder of the FealGood Foundation.

“The TEAM coalition is working to ensure that veterans returning from war find the resources, support, and care that they desperately need,” Stewart said. “We have nearly 20 years of science on what these toxic exposures did to the lungs and organs of the first responders and survivors of 9/11. None of those who served our nation, whether first responder or soldier, should have to battle their own government to get their conditions recognized.”

“This legislation is an important first step toward resolving the tremendous health crisis caused by toxic exposures,” Feal said. “I’m confident that our combined efforts, along with the support of the warriors we collectively serve and the members of Congress who believe in our work, will bring about the change we want to see, which America’s ill and injured veterans desperately deserve.”

To date, there are more than 210,000 post-9/11 veterans enrolled in the VA’s Burn Pit Registry, and thousands more remain sick without proper access to VA health care.

S.711 Care for Reservists Act of 2019
To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for mental health services from the Department of Veterans Affairs to include members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

S.332 Agent Orange Exposure Fairness Act
The Agent Orange Exposure Fairness Act of 2019 ( S 332) would amend the section of the US Code relating to veteran benefits for exposure to herbicides used during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange is a potent herbicide that was used by the US military during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange contains a toxic molecule, known as dioxin, which has been strongly associated with the development of cancer and birth defects in veterans and their children.

S.805 Veterans Debt Fairness Act

The VA may only deduct the amount of debt of any veteran who is in debt because of participation in a VA benefits program from future benefit payments if the debt is the result of the following:

• failure to report correct, required information to the VA by the veteran (or other party such as a spouse);
• fraud or misrepresentation perpetrated by the veteran (or other party);
• a reduction in or termination of pursuit of a program of education, in the case of a recipient of educational assistance; or
• failure to complete a service agreement, in the case of the transfer of education assistance.

S.2216 TEAM Caregiver Act

A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize caregivers of veterans, notify veterans and caregivers of clinical determinations relating to eligibility for caregiver programs, and temporarily extend benefits for veterans who are determined ineligible for the family caregiver program, and for other purposes.

 Veterans Benefits Enhancement and Expansion Act of 2020
Postponed until a later date while the committee continue to work on this bill.
I would love to include the wording of this act but the sponsoring Senator’s have not made this public.

S.3235 Post Traumatic Growth Act

Amended to be piloted and conducted through the Veterans’ Affair’s Whole Health Office. This bill is meant to increase mental health care for the purpose of treating PTSD and preventing suicides among out military personel.