Legislation Enacted into Law
Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2013 (H.R. 1412)
Introduced by Rep. Mike Coffman
H.R. 1412 extends a number of veterans initiatives such as the adaptive sports program for disabled veterans, homeless veterans programs and the extension of grants to assist disabled veterans with home adaptation.
Status: Public Law 113-37 (Signed 9/30/2013)
To name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Bay Pines, Florida, as the "C.W. Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center" (H.R. 3302)
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Miller
H.R. 3302 renames the VA Medical Center in Bay Pines, Fla., to the “C.W. Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Status: Public Law 113-49 (Signed 11/13/2013)
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013 (S. 893)
Introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders
S.893 increases disability compensation, clothing allowance, and survivor benefits equal to the 2013 Social Security COLA – a 1.5 percent increase.
Status: Public Law 113-52 (Signed 11/21/2013)
VA Expiring Authorities Extension Act of 2013 (H.R. 1402)
Introduced by Rep. Mike Coffman
H.R. 1402 extends funding for a number of VA programs through the 2015 fiscal year, including VA’s authority to operate its adaptive sports program for disabled veterans as well as nursing home services for certain veterans.
Status: Public Law 113-59 (Signed 12/20/2013)
Alicia Dawn Koehl Respect for National Cemeteries Act (S. 1471)
Introduced by Sen. Dan Coats
S. 1471 gives the Department of Veterans Affairs and Army Secretaries the authority to exhume from national cemeteries the remains of individuals who have committed capital crimes.
Status: Public Law 113-65 (Signed 12/20/2013)
The Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (H.R. 3230)
Introduced by Rep. Harold Rogers
H.R. 3230 will improve access to care for veterans seeking medical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Status: Public Law 113-146 (Signed 8/7/2014)
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2014 (S. 2258 5404, as amended)
Introduced by Senator Mark Begich
H.R. 5404, would authorize a cost-of-living adjustment for disabled veterans receiving disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs and other compensation for survivors of veterans who have died as a result of their service to our country.
Status: Public Law 113-181 (Signed 9/26/2014)
House-Passed Bills
American Heroes COLA Act (H.R. 570)
Introduced by Rep. Jon Runyan
H.R. 570 would increase disability compensation, clothing allowance, and survivor benefits equal to this year’s Social Security COLA – a 1.5 percent increase.
Status: House Passed 5/21/2013; Similar bill, S. 893, became Public Law 113-52.
Ruth Moore Act of 2013 (H.R. 671, as amended)
Introduced by Rep. Chellie Pingree
H.R. 671 would reform the evidentiary standards for survivors of military sexual trauma (MST) who file claims for mental health conditions with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Status: Pending in Senate (House Passed 6/4/2013)
To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include a notice of disagreement form in any notice of decision issued for the denial of a benefit sought, to improve the supervision of fiduciaries of veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes (H.R. 1405, as amended)
Introduced by Rep. Dina Titus
H.R. 1405 would require the VA secretary to include an appeals form along with any benefits-denial notification, institute key reforms to VA’s fiduciary program and provide honorary veterans status to members of the National Guard and Reserves.
H.R. 1405 includes provisions from the following bills:
- H.R. 679 (Introduced by Rep. Tim Walz).
- H.R. 733 (Introduced by Rep. Jon Runyan)
- H.R. 894, as amended (Introduced by Rep. Bill Johnson)
Status: Pending in Senate (House Passed 10/28/2013)
Veterans Economic Opportunity Act of 2013 (H.R. 2481, as amended)
Introduced by Rep. Bill Flores
H.R. 2481 would establish an Economic Opportunity Administration within VA, enabling the department to better focus on veterans’ transition to civilian life.
Provisions in H.R. 2481, as amended, include:
- H.R. 2327, as amended (Introduced by Rep. Jeff Miller)
- H.R. 2150 (Introduced by Rep. Paul Cook)
- H.R. 2210, as amended (Introduced by Rep. C.W. Bill Young)
- H.R. 331 (Introduced by Rep. Ken Calvert)
- H.R. 1842 (Introduced by Rep. Eijah Cummings)
- H.R. 1898 (Introduced by Rep Michael Turner)
Status: Pending in Senate (House Passed 10/28/2013)
Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education Improvement Act of 2013 (H.R. 2011)
Introduced by Rep. John Delaney
H.R. 2011 would extend the term of a special veteran students advisory committee for two years.
Status: Pending in Senate (House Passed 10/28/2013)
To improve the processing of disability claims by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes (H.R. 2189, as amended)
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Miller
H.R. 2189 would establish a commission or task force charged with examining the root causes of the Department of Veterans Affairs disability claims backlog and providing solutions for ending it by 2015.
Provisions in H.R. 2189, as amended, include:
- H.R. 2138, as amended (Introduced by Representative Kevin McCarthy)
- H.R. 2382, as amended (Introduced by Representative Paul Cook)
- H.R. 1623, as amended (Introduced by Representative Gloria Negrete McLeod)
- H.R. 1805, as amended (Introduced by Representative Ann M. Kuster)
- H.R. 1759, as amended (Introduced by Representative Raul Ruiz)
- H.R. 1824, as amended (Introduced by Representative Grace Meng)
- H.R. 1809, as amended (Introduced by Representative Beto O'Rourke)
- H.R. 2423, as amended (Introduced by Representative Jon Runyan)
- H.R. 2341, as amended (Introduced by Representative Thomas J. Rooney)
- H.R. 2086, as amended (Introduced by Representative Dina Titus)
- H.R. 1494, as amended (Introduced by Representative Christopher P. Gibson)
- H.R. 1288 (Introduced by Representative G. K. Butterfield)
- H.R. 864 (Introduced by Representative Mike McIntyre)
- H.R. 2185 (Introduced by Representative Stephen F. Lynch)
Status: Pending in Senate (House Passed 10/28/2013)
Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act of 2013 (H.R. 3521, as amended)
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Miller
H.R. 3521 would authorize 27 Department of Veterans Affairs major medical facility leases requested by VA in its fiscal year 2013 and 2014 budget submissions.
Status: Pending in Senate (House Passed 12/10/2013)
GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act of 2014 (H.R. 357, as amended)
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Miller
H.R. 357 would enable G.I. Bill recipients to receive in-state tuition rates at any public college or university in the country, not just those in a veteran’s state of residence. The bill also contains a number of other provisions designed to enhance veterans benefits and bring more accountability and efficiency to the Department of Veterans Affairs, including:
- A five year ban on performance bonuses for VA Senior Executive Service employees
- An extension of Veterans Retraining and Assistance Program job training benefits through May 31, 2014. The program is currently set to expire March 31, 2014
- Stronger infectious disease reporting requirements for VA hospitals
- A requirement for VA health officials to obtain the consent of patients before electronically monitoring them in private patient areas
- More comprehensive reporting requirements for VA employees traveling abroad
Provisions in H.R. 357, as amended, include:
- H.R. 562 (Introduced by Representative Jeff Miller)
- H.R. 569 (Introduced by Representative Jon Runyan)
- H.R. 631, as amended (Introduced by Representative Bill Flores)
- H.R. 844 (Introduced by Representative Mark Takano)
- H.R. 1305 (Introduced by Representative Brad Wenstrup)
- H.R. 1316, as amended (Introduced by Representative Bill Flores)
- H.R. 1402 (Introduced by Representative Mike Coffman)
- H.R. 1453 (Introduced by Representative Mark Takano)
Status: Pending in Senate (House Passed 2/3/2014)
Veteran Access to Care Act of 2014 (H.R. 4810, as amended)
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Miller
H.R. 4810, The Veterans Access to Care Act would require VA to offer non-VA care at the department’s expense to any enrolled veteran who cannot get an appointment within VA wait time goals or who lives more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility.
Status: Signed into law as part of the The Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (House Passed 6/10/2014)
VA Construction Assistance Act of 2014 (H.R. 3593, as amended)
Introduced by Rep. Mike Coffman
H.R. 3593, as amended, would direct the inclusion of an outside entity – the Army Corps of Engineers – to assist in the management of VA’s major facility construction efforts.
Status: Pending in Senate (House Passed 9/16/2014)
Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014 (H.R. 5404, as amended)
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Denham
H.R. 5404, as amended, would extend a number of expiring current authorities and critical programs at both the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor.
Status: Pending in Senate (House Passed 9/16/2014)
Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act of 2014 (H.R. 4276, as amended)
Introduced by Rep. Bill Cassidy
H.R. 4276, as amended, would require VA to provide reports to Congress on the pilot program for assisted living services for veterans with traumatic brain injury.
Status: Pending in Senate (House Passed 9/16/2014)
Foreclosure Relief and Extension for Servicemembers Act of 2014 (S. 3008)
S. 3008 would temporarily extend the extended period of protection for servicemembers against foreclosures for another year to December 31, 2015.
Status: Pending President's Signature (House Passed 12/12/2014)
Committee Sponsored Legislation
H.R. 357, the GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act of 2013.
H.R. 562, VRAP Extension Act of 2013.
H.R. 602, Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act.
H.R. 813, the Putting Veterans Funding First Act of 2013.
H.R. 1490, the Veterans' Privacy Act.
H.R. 2189, To establish a commission or task force to evaluate the backlog of disability claims of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
H.R. 2327, Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration Act of 2013.
H.R. 4031, the Department of Veterans Affairs Management and Accountability Act of 2014
The Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014
