(Washington, D.C.) — “Vietnam Veterans of America commends Congress on the final passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act on December 16, 2024,” said Jack McManus, VVA National President. “This bipartisan bill is a testament to VVA’s unwavering commitment to the well-being of veterans. It is our duty to ensure that no veteran is left behind, and the passage of this act is a crucial step toward fulfilling that promise,” said McManus.
Introduced by Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), this landmark veterans’ package contains significant reforms to the delivery of VA services and healthcare and is the byproduct of years-long work. It incorporates language from 12 pieces of legislation introduced in the last two years and addresses crucial provisions endorsed by VVA that balance the need for oversight with the essential finality of decision-making between veterans and their referring clinicians.
McManus said, “This legislation expands economic opportunity for veterans, gives veterans a choice in where they choose to live out their retirement or receive healthcare, modernizes the disability benefits claims process, and holds VA accountable to the taxpayers and veterans they serve, as well as their families.
It addresses some of the most urgent needs of veterans and caregivers by improving veterans’ mental health and long-term care services, the VA’s caregiver program, veterans’ homeless programs, expanding dental care, education assistance, burial benefits, and more. The health and well-being of our veterans, their caregivers, and their survivors will be profoundly impacted by the final passage of this legislation,” McManus said.
We are proud to see the hard work of our many members who participated in an on-going and ultimately highly effective grass-roots campaign come to a successful conclusion with this bill’s passage,” said McManus. “We also want to acknowledge our Government Chair, Felix Perterson, our Government Affairs staff, our steadfast partner, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and all of our partner VSOs who worked so hard to make this happen.”
