Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act

Bill: 118-hr-8371
Sponsor: Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6]
Introduced: 2024-05-14 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Advisory bodies
Aging
Area studies and international education
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Cemeteries and funerals
Civil actions and liability
Community life and organization
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Dental care
Department of Veterans Affairs
Disability assistance
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Education programs funding
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Executive agency funding and structure
Family services
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Higher education
Home and outpatient care
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Housing and community development funding
Housing finance and home ownership
Indian social and development programs
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Intergovernmental relations
Internet, web applications, social media
Law enforcement administration and funding
Legal fees and court costs
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Motor carriers
Nursing
Performance measurement
Science and engineering education
State and local government operations
Student aid and college costs
Transportation costs
User charges and fees
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' organizations and recognition
Veterans' pensions and compensation
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2024-05-14
text: 

Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act

This bill addresses various programs, benefits, and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including those related to health care, educational assistance, home loans, homelessness, and disability and memorial affairs.

Among other elements, the bill

modifies the administration of the Veterans Community Care Program, including by providing protections for care agreements between veterans and clinicians;

increases the expenditure cap for non-institutional care alternatives to nursing home care;

provides certain support to family caregivers under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers;

modifies the administration of certain educational assistance programs and benefits, including by removing the expiration on a surviving spouse’s entitlement under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship;

expands the Native American Direct Loan program by allowing Native American veterans to refinance other existing mortgage loans on the same property if certain conditions are met;

requires the VA to provide a burial and funeral allowance for certain veterans who die prior to October 1, 2026, in a home or other setting at which the veteran was receiving VA hospice care (if such care was directly preceded by VA hospital or nursing home care);

temporarily increases the maximum rate of per diem payments provided by the VA to entities that furnish services and transitional housing to homeless veterans;

authorizes a program to modernize the electronic health record and other relevant health information technology systems of the VA; and

addresses various oversight and reporting matters.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-11-19
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2024-11-18
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2024-11-18
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 389 - 9 (Roll no. 466). (text: CR H6038-6065)
action_date: 2024-11-18
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 389 - 9 (Roll no. 466). (text: CR H6038-6065)
action_date: 2024-11-18
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6071)
action_date: 2024-11-18
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2024-11-18
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8371.
action_date: 2024-11-18
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6038-6070)
action_date: 2024-11-18
text: Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2024-05-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2024-05-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2024-05-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2024-05-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2024-05-14
text: Introduced in House