Supports Veterans Bills Passed into Law

VA/HUD appropriations legislation for fiscal year 2001

Signed into law 27-Oct-2000

* provides $47.003 billion for VA programs and benefits -- $2.8 billion more than fiscal year 2000 funding and $55 million more than requested by the president. * increases funding for VA medical care by $1.3 billion over fiscal year 2000 funding.

Keep Our Promise to America’s Military Retirees Act

Signed into law 30-Oct-2000

* expands TRICARE to veterans and their families who entered the service prior to June 7, 1956, and who served at least 20 years or were discharged due to a service-connected disability. * allows participation by these veterans and families without co-payments, premiums, enrollment fees, or deductibles. * expands access to TRICARE prescription drug benefits for all Medicare-eligible military retirees and their families, with minimal deductions for those who must use out-of-network pharmacies.

Duty to Assist Veterans Act

Signed into law 27-Oct-2000

* in 1999, the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in Morton v. West overturned the long-standing duty of the VA to assist veterans in developing their claims for VA benefits. * as a result, H.R. 3193 was introduced to reestablish in law the duty of the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans in preparing their claims for benefits. Additionally, H.R. 3193 would clarify the burden of proof for veterans filing claims for benefits and eliminate the current requirement for a claim to be "well-grounded."

Honor Our Vietnam Veterans Act

Signed into law on 15-June-2000

* authorizes the placement within the site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of a plaque to honor those Vietnam veterans who died after their service in the Vietnam war, but as a direct result of that service.

Veterans' Millenium Health Care and Benefits Act

Signed into law 30-Nov-1999

* directs the VA to provide for extended care services for veterans. * provides funding for construction of a surgical addition at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. * authorizes payment to spouses of certain prisoners of war who died with a service-connected disability rated totally disabling at the time of death.

Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 1999

Signed into law 30-Nov-1999

* provides a much-needed cost-of-living adjustment in disability compensation for veterans with service-related disabilities.

Additional Veterans Bills Co-Sponsored by Congressman Moore

H.R. 179: The Keep Our Promise to America’s Military Retirees Act

* establishes a fully paid health care system under the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan for military retirees who entered service before June 7, 1956. It also covers surviving spouses. * allows all other military retirees to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan, CHAMPUS after age 65, or TRICARE. Includes unremarried spouses and dependents.

H.R.303 - Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2001

* amends title 38, United States Code, to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who retired with over 20 years of service and who have service-connected disabilities to receive compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs concurrently with retired pay, without deduction from either.

H.R. 511 – Veterans’ Right to Know Act

* amends title 38, United States Code, to improve outreach programs carried out by the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide for more fully informing veterans of benefits available to them under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

H.R.2000 – Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2001

* amends title 10, United States Code, to increase the minimum Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) basic annuity for surviving spouses age 62 and older.

H.R. 612 - Persian Gulf War Illness Compensation Act of 2001

* amends the Persian Gulf War Veterans’ Benefit Act to recognize Gulf War Illness, for the first time, as a war-related injury and compensate its victims accordingly.

Bill Awaiting Reintroduction that Congressman Moore Supports

Veterans’ Emergency Telephone Service Act

* Provides veterans with immediate access through the 411-911 number to obtain information on medical treatment, substance abuse rehabilitation, emergency food and shelter services, and employment training and opportunities.

* Provides access to counseling and crisis intervention services.