Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), and Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations Chairwoman Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), released the following statements after the House passed her bill, H.R. 3581, the Caregiver Outreach and Program Enhancement (COPE) Act, vitally important legislation to create a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grant program that would help veteran caregivers seek the mental health care they need without fear of reducing access for veterans or concerns about stigma.

The COPE Act also reaffirms House Republicans' commitment to improving safety and security at VA facilities to ensure veterans are receiving care in a safe environment.

“Becoming a veteran caregiver is no small undertaking and caregivers often put their entire lives aside in the pursuit of caring for their loved one,” said Chairman Bost. “Therefore, we must ensure caregivers have access to the care they need. I am grateful to my friend and a fellow veteran, Rep. Kiggans, for her work on the COPE Act to break down barriers for veteran caregivers and find them the mental health support within their communities that works best for them. This is exactly what House Republicans are focused on, making government resources and support services work better for every American. I know that this bill will have a profound impact on our veteran caregiver community and will ensure veterans are safe in VA’s facilities. I look forward to working with Senate to enact this bill as part of a larger package of veterans’ legislation.”

“Improving the lives of our nation’s heroes is one of my top priorities in Congress,” said Rep. Kiggans. “With the passage of my COPE Act today, we are taking several steps to ensure our veterans are receiving the quality healthcare they have earned and deserve in a safe environment. As the granddaughter of a veteran, the daughter of a veteran, the wife of a veteran, the mother of future veterans, and having served 10 years in the Navy as a helicopter pilot, I will always fight to provide our former servicemembers with a VA care system they can depend on. Thank you to Chairman Bost, Ranking Member Takano, and all the members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee for helping me advance this important, bipartisan legislation. I look forward to getting it across the finish line!”

To learn more about the COPE Act, click here.