Press Releases

Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), released the following statement after the House passed four bipartisan veterans’ bills this week:

“The bills that moved through the House this week make up four big wins for veterans and their families. These bipartisan bills will: improve the oversight process of schools who offer the GI Bill benefits, modernize the disability exam claims process, strengthen benefits for children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida, and memorialize the service of a Medal of Honor hero.

“I’m especially proud to see the passage of our Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Chairman, Rep. Luttrell’s, first bill since coming to Congress. Mr. Luttrell knows good policy for veterans seeking their well-earned benefits, which is exactly what his bill, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act will do for veterans. This bill cuts through the red tape that prevents our veterans from easily accessing the disability benefits from VA that they have earned and makes long-overdue, modern improvements to the claims process. 

“The House also passed a bill to designate a New Mexico VA Clinic as the “Hiroshi ‘Hershey’ Miyamura VA Clinic,” to honor an inspiring American hero. The son of Japanese immigrants, Hershey joined the US Army in the final days of WWII and was called back to active-duty at the outbreak of the Korean War. Hersey displayed heroic actions throughout the war by always putting his fellow soldiers first, he was then captured and held as a prisoner of war for 28 months prior to his release in 1953, which later earned him the Medal of Honor. This week, the House ensured that his heroic time in uniform and sacrifice will never be forgotten. I look forward to seeing all of these bills passed in both chambers and signed into law as soon as possible.”

The following bills were passed out of the House this week:

H.R. 1530 – Veterans Benefits Improvement Act (Rep. Luttrell)

H.R. 3981 – Isakson-Roe Education Oversight Expansion Act (Rep. McGarvey)

S. 112 - A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to strengthen benefits for children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida, and for other purposes (Sen. Braun)

S. 475 – to designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Gallup, New Mexico, as the Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura VA Clinic (Sen. Heinrich)