News & Opinion

Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.) and Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), published the below opinion piece in the Eastern Arizona Courier to highlight the impact House Republicans flagship, bipartisan, bicameral veterans’ package for the 118th Congress, The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, would have on veterans, their families, and their survivors. Later today, the House will move to pass the Dole Act and send it to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

Honoring our promise to our veterans
By Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz. & Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill.
December 12, 2024

As a nation, we owe our veterans a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid. Their unwavering commitment to service and dedication to our country is a testament to their patriotism and the reason we can enjoy the freedoms we deeply cherish. Caring for those who defended our nation is not a responsibility we take lightly. As members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, we are committed to continue pursuing efforts that empower our veteran community as they transition back into civilian life and beyond.

For nearly two years, we have been listening to the veteran community and veteran-serving organizations about the unique challenges they face, gaining valuable insights as we continue to work to modernize and reform the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to ensure it meets their needs and is able to deliver the support and resources their service earned.

In October, we jointly attended several veterans-focused events in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, which is home to over 70,000 veterans, one of the largest populations of any district across the country. We met with veterans from all walks of life — their survivors, healthcare workers and more — to see firsthand how southern Arizona continues to lead the way to ensure veterans and their families can thrive. We discussed improving access to employment opportunities, job training and education, and outside-the-box mental health support for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The result of this work is the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (H.R. 8371), which passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 389-9. This bill is the flagship bicameral, bipartisan veterans’ legislative package for the 118th Congress and encompasses policies to modernize the delivery of healthcare, benefits, and services at the VA, cut through unnecessary and burdensome red-tape, expand access to job training and employment opportunities, address veteran homelessness, strengthen mental health services, and more.

One provision included in this package builds upon a previous effort by Rep. Ciscomani, which passed by the House of Representatives last year. The Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET-TEC) Authorization Act (H.R. 1669) would cover the costs for veterans seeking job training in high-tech industries. Currently, the program has an 84 percent graduation rate for the 12,000 veterans who have completed it.

Moreover, this legislative package would also expand elderly care options for aging veterans and improve access to mental healthcare for veteran caregivers, strengthen home and community care options, streamline the disability claims process, and create a modern and efficient VA that serves the needs of our current and future veteran community.

As we look ahead, our work is far from over. Passing this landmark legislation in the House is an important milestone, but we remain steadfast in our commitment to encourage its passage through the Senate and into law. Our veterans deserve nothing less than a system that matches the excellence of their service. Their courage, resilience, and sacrifice are the foundation of our freedoms and their service must be rewarded with tangible actions.

This legislation is one step in our ongoing journey to repay the immeasurable debt we owe our veterans. Once they hang up their uniform, it is our turn to fight for them, just as they fought for us. We must ensure that every veteran has the opportunity to thrive in the nation they so valiantly defended.

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., is chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, who also sits on the committee, is a Republican serving Arizona's 6th Congressional District.

For a section-by-section summary of the Dole Act, click here.