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This week, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), delivered the following remarks, as prepared, prior to passage of S. 2795, To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend and modify certain authorities and requirements relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, which passed the House with bipartisan support on Wednesday and now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law:

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass S. 2795.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on S. 2795.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2795, a bill to extend V.A.’s expiring authorities.

The Veterans’ Affairs Committee works on an extenders bill every year, and this year it was introduced by my friends Senator Tester and Senator Moran.

The 2023 extenders bill does three things.

First, it would extend V.A.’s participation in the National Disaster Medical System for five years.

V.A. has a mission to protect veterans and staff and support public health during disasters or emergencies.

Second, the bill would allow medical professionals who are contracted to perform veterans’ disability exams to continue practicing across state lines.

V.A. depends on contractors to perform most of the disability exams, and the contractors depend on this authority.

This bill would continue the authority for two more years.

Finally, the bill would continue protecting student veterans if their school closes or gets disapproved under the G.I. Bill.

It would allow the Secretary to restore their entitlement to education benefits for two more years.

I support this legislation because it gives V.A. important tools to take care of our veterans.

Without extending these authorities, serious impacts to operations would mean:

• V.A.’s ability to protect Americans during disasters would be limited.

• Veterans’ claims for disability compensation would ground to a halt.

• And, student veterans would be left out in the cold if they attended a college that closed due to fraud or mismanagement.

We can’t let that happen.

I would once again like to thank Senators Tester and Moran for working on this legislation in the Senate.

I would also like to thank Dr. Murphy for his work to lead the companion legislation in the House.

I urge all my colleagues to support S. 2795.