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Q: What has Congress been doing to assist Veterans?


A: In fulfilling America's promise to our nation's Veterans, the Congress and the President have passed the following legislation: H.R. 1291 - VETERANS EDUCATION AND BENEFITS EXPANSION ACT OF 2001 Authorizes more than $3.1 billion over five years to expand and increase educational, housing, burial and disability benefits Signed by President Bush on December 27, 2001 (P.L. 107 - 103) · Boosts the MGIB college education benefit amount by a record 46% over 2 years, increasing the total college benefit for qualified Veterans from $24,192 to $35,460 The GI Bill is one of the most successful government programs ever implemented, helping to create the modern middle class and serving as the Armed Forces' top recruiting tool estores lost MGIB benefits for Reservists and National Guard Members called up to active duty Increases VA Guaranteed Home Loans from a maximum mortgage of $203,000 to $240,000 Increases specially adapted housing grants for severely disabled Veterans from $43,000 to $48,000 Increases the automobile and adaptive equipment grant for severely disabled Veterans Increases burial and funeral expense benefits by 25% and doubles burial plot allowances Makes type II diabetes a service-connected condition for Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange Adds undiagnosed conditions, such as fybromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic multi-symptom illnesses to list of service-connected conditions for Gulf War Veterans H.R. 2716 - HOMELESS VETERANS COMPREHENSIVE ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2001 Authorizes $1 billion to aid homeless Veterans and prevent Veterans from becoming homeless Signed by President Bush on December 21, 2001 (P.L. 107 - 95) Authorizes 2,000 additional section 8 HUD low-income housing vouchers for homeless Veterans Authorizes 10 new domiciliaries for homeless Veterans programs Authorizes $285 million for the Homeless Grant and Per Diem Program Authorizes $250 million for the Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Requires VA to provide technical assistance to nonprofit community-based organizations seeking federal funding for homeless programs Requires the VA to provide mental health programs wherever primary care is provided Earmarks $10 million for medical care for homeless Veterans with special needs, including older Veterans, women and substance abusers H.R. 2540 - VETERANS' COMPENSATION RATE AMENDMENTS OF 2001 Boosts compensation payments for disabled Veterans by $2.5 billion over the next five years Signed by President Bush on December 21, 2001 (P.L. 107 - 94) For 100% disabled Veterans, the average COLA increase would be $738 per year H.R. 3447 - DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2001 Increases health programs for Veterans by $1.4 billion Signed by President on January 23, 2002 (P.L. 107 - 135) Lowers out-of-pocket hospitalization expenses for lower income Veterans by 80% to compensate for regional differences in the cost-of-living Requires the VA to establish chiropractic care programs nationwide Authorizes service dog programs for paralyzed and other severely disabled Veterans Requires the VA to maintain specialized medical programs - such as for mental illness, spinal cord injuries and prosthetics - in each of the VA's 22 regional divisions Creates new incentive and recruitment programs to attract and retain VA nurses H.R. 801 - VETERANS' SURVIVOR BENEFITS IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2001 Adds $100 million in new health care benefits for surviving spouses of Veterans, and extends life insurance coverage to spouses and children of servicemembers Signed by President Bush on June 5, 2001 (P.L. 107 - 14) Expands CHAMPVA to surviving spouses of Veterans who die of a service-connected disability Expands Servicemembers' group life insurance (SGLI) to include spouses and children of Servicemembers; $100,000 for spouses and $10,000 for children Makes retroactive to October 1, 2000 the increase to $250,000 for the maximum SGLI benefit for Servicemembers killed in the line of duty H.R. 811 - VETERANS HOSPITAL EMERGENCY REPAIR ACT Authorizes $550 million over two years to repair, renovate, retrofit and rebuild dilapidated VA health care and research facilities Passed by the House on March 27, 2001, still pending in the Senate Provides the VA with authority to award grants up to $30 million per selected facility H.R. 3423 - REFORMING BURIAL RULES AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY Reforms Army regulations governing eligibility for in-ground burials of Guardsmen and Reservists at Arlington National Cemetery Passed by the House on December 20, 2001, still pending in the Senate Removes the age requirement for retired Reserve members Makes eligible all Guardsmen and Reservists who die in the line of duty For more information or if your particular problem or question was not addressed and you need additional assistance, please go to my casework section or contact my office.