Press Releases

Today, Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released the following statement after the Committee held a markup of 18 bills:

“At a time when Washington Democrats’ liberal spending is out-of-control, I am disappointed that several of the bills that were passed out of our Committee tonight come with high costs and zero stakeholder views or discussion,” said Ranking Member Bost. “Veterans are taxpayers too. Like all Americans, they have a right to know that the policy their lawmakers are putting forth on their behalf is necessary, appropriate, and won’t break the bank. That is not the case for many of the bills that were marked up today.

“That said, I am proud of my Republican colleagues for their well-thought-out bills that passed out of Committee this evening to support servicemembers, veterans, and their families,” Ranking Member Bost continued. “Rep. Ellzey’s first bill as a Member of Congress, the VITAL Assessment Act, would enhance mental health care for student veterans. Dr. Miller-Meeks’ bill, the Veterans Justice Outreach Improvement Act, would enhance support for veterans with legal troubles. Rep. Bilirakis’ bill, the Col. James Floyd Turner IV USMC GI Bill Transfer Act of 2021, would enhance the ability for grieving military families to access VA education benefits after their servicemember or veteran family member passes away. And, Rep. Rouzer’s bill, the Expanding the Families of Veterans Access to Mental Health Services Act, will enhance the ability of the families of veterans who die by suicide to seek bereavement counseling at Vet Centers.”

The following bills were passed out of Committee today:
H.R. 5516 - VITAL Assessment Act (Rep. Ellzey)
H.R. 5529 - Veterans Justice Outreach Improvement Act (Rep. Miller-Meeks)
H.R. 2250 - VA IT Reform Act of 2021 (Rep. Rosendale)
H.R. 5151 - Col. James Floyd Turner IV USMC GI Bill Transfer Act of 2021 (Rep. Bilirakis)
H.R. 5029 - Expanding the Families of Veterans Access to Mental Health Services Act (Rep. Rouzer)
H.R. 5721 - VIPER Act (Rep. Takano)
H.R. 5603 - Protections for Student Veterans Act (Rep. Underwood)
H.R. 2916 - VA Medical Cannabis Research Act of 2021 (Rep. Correa)
H.R. 1836 - Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2021 (Rep. Mike Levin)
H.R. 1596 - Commission to Study the Stigmatization, Criminalization, and Ongoing Exclusion and Inequity for LGBTQ Servicemembers and Veterans Act (Rep. Takano)
H.R. 5562 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care from the Department of Veterans Affairs to include veterans of World War II (Rep. Harder)
H.R. 4845 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the Advisory Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Veterans (Rep. Pappas)
H.R. 2385 - Justice for Women Veterans Act (Rep. Brownley)
H.R. 3730 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs an Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States, and for other purposes (Rep. Sablan)
H.R. 3944 - Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2021 (Rep. Pappas)
H.R. 5607 - Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2021 (Rep. Slotkin)
H.R. 4591 - VA Electronic Health Record Transparency Act of 2021 (Rep. Mrvan)
H.R. 5671 - To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza vaccines to certain individuals, and for other purposes (Rep. Takano)