The Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014 (S.1982) is headed to the Senate Floor.
VetsFirst believes this legislation goes a long way toward fulfilling many of the current and future needs of our disabled veterans. Specifically, S. 1982 includes several provisions that if made law would promote veterans’ health and well-being. For example, this legislation includes a provision that would expand eligibility for VA’s enhanced caregiver program to include caregivers of certain veterans who were injured before September 11, 2001. Another important provision would provide assistance to severely disabled veterans who are seeking to grow their families through the use of assisted reproductive technology or adoption.
We also support efforts by Senator John Boozman (R-AR) and Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) to offer an amendment to S. 1982, that would ensure that all of VA’s programs, services, and benefits receive advance appropriations. This proposed amendment includes the same language as was included in their bill, S. 932, which was approved by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee in November 2013. VetsFirst supports this amendment and urges its inclusion in S. 1982.