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Legislative News:
Checking the National Committees in Congress and the Senate will give you the names of members of Veteran’s Affairs, Armed Services and Military Affairs. Communication with your state’s Senators and Congressmen and Women will be helpful. If you have questions or suggestions on Current Legislation, Contact Carol Resh.
Congressman Kim (D-NJ) and Congressman Ratcliffe (R-TX)
Introduce Bill to Honor Gold Star Families
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) and Congressman John Ratcliffe (TX-04) introduced H.R. 2819, the Gold Star Families National Monument Extension Act of 2019, which extends the authorization for the establishment of a monument in honor of Gold Star families. The extended authorization will allow more time for the families to ensure the monument’s construction and completion.
“Service doesn’t stop at those who wear the uniform, it extends to our military families,” said Congressman Kim. “We must never forget to honor the sacrifice of family members who have lost a loved one in defense of our nation. I’m proud to stand with Congressman Ratcliffe in this bipartisan effort to ensure that our Gold Star Families are recognized for all they’ve given our country.”
“As a grateful nation, we must make it a constant priority to commemorate those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our freedom, and this should include honoring the families who’ve lost loved ones in the line of duty,” said Congressman Ratcliffe. “I’m glad for the opportunity to introduce bipartisan legislation with Congressman Kim that will recognize Gold Star families, as we seek to express our country’s immense gratitude through a National Monument in Washington D.C.”
For over a century, the Gold Star tradition has reminded our nation of the sacrifices made by servicemembers and their families. The tradition goes back to World War I, where flags were displayed bearing a Blue Star representing a family member serving abroad, and a Gold Star for a family member who had been lost in combat.
The monument will be entirely sponsored by the Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation and will be built at no cost to the taxpayer. Once completed, it will be located in Washington, D.C.
Introduce Bill to Honor Gold Star Families
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) and Congressman John Ratcliffe (TX-04) introduced H.R. 2819, the Gold Star Families National Monument Extension Act of 2019, which extends the authorization for the establishment of a monument in honor of Gold Star families. The extended authorization will allow more time for the families to ensure the monument’s construction and completion.
“Service doesn’t stop at those who wear the uniform, it extends to our military families,” said Congressman Kim. “We must never forget to honor the sacrifice of family members who have lost a loved one in defense of our nation. I’m proud to stand with Congressman Ratcliffe in this bipartisan effort to ensure that our Gold Star Families are recognized for all they’ve given our country.”
“As a grateful nation, we must make it a constant priority to commemorate those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our freedom, and this should include honoring the families who’ve lost loved ones in the line of duty,” said Congressman Ratcliffe. “I’m glad for the opportunity to introduce bipartisan legislation with Congressman Kim that will recognize Gold Star families, as we seek to express our country’s immense gratitude through a National Monument in Washington D.C.”
For over a century, the Gold Star tradition has reminded our nation of the sacrifices made by servicemembers and their families. The tradition goes back to World War I, where flags were displayed bearing a Blue Star representing a family member serving abroad, and a Gold Star for a family member who had been lost in combat.
The monument will be entirely sponsored by the Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation and will be built at no cost to the taxpayer. Once completed, it will be located in Washington, D.C.
Legislative Updates
H.R. 1162: No Hero Left Untreated Act H.R. 1162, requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a one year pilot program to treat a limited number of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, or opiate addiction or who have experienced military sexual trauma by using magnetic EEG/EKG-guided resonance therapy. The bill also requires VA to submit a report on the pilot program. This has passed both the House and Senate and has been sent to the President.
H.R. 4335 Concerning service member burial and headstones for spouses and dependent children. This has passed the House and is in the Senate.
S. 2372 Concerning cemetery benefits. This has passed both the House and Senate and has gone to the President. This legislation has been signed into law by the President on June 6, 2018.
H.R. 3562 Amends Title 38 and authorizes the Secretary of the VA to furnish assistance for residence adaptations for Veterans in rehabilitation programs. This legislation has been signed into law by the President.
S. 1282 Re-designating certain DVS clinics in Montana. This has passed the House and Senate and has gone to the President. This was signed into law by the President on June 5, 2018.
H.R. 3663 Concerning the Huntington, West Virginia Medical Center. To be renamed the Hershal “Woody” Williams Medical Center. This has passed the House and Senate and has gone to the President.
H.R. 4334 Concerning women’s health care. This has passed the House and is now in the Senate.
The following bills have recently been signed into law.
H.R. 4958, Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018. (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2018, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Each such increase shall be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date.
H.R. 324, State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Improvement Act of 2017, was signed by the President on March 27, 2018
H.R. 3656, concerning memorial headstones and markers for eligible spouses and dependent children of those who served and whose remains are unavailable. This legislation was signed by the President, March 16, 2018.
H.R. 2519 The American Legion 100th Anniversary Coin
H.R. 2288 The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017- this addresses appeals that Veterans may make to decisions that affect them.
H.R. 1329 The Veteran's Compensation, COLA, Act of 2017
There are several bills that you may want to watch and express your opinion to your legislators. They have passed the House and now are in the Senate.
S. 2134, the Andrew White Veterans Community Care Opioid Safety Act. This was introduced by bipartisan support in November 2017. This is to strengthen opioid therapy safety and pain care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is named in memory of West Virginia Veteran, Andrew White. This bill has been introduced.
H.R. 4173 Veterans Crisis Line Study Act of 2017 has passed in the House and moved to the Senate.
H.R. 3262 Physicians Assistant Employment and Education Act-which provides for education for Veterans that served in medical jobs in the military and helps if they want to further their education in the medical field. This bill has passed in the House and moved into the Senate.
The following bill has passed the Senate:
S. 925 Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support Act of 2017. This bill has passed in the Senate. There is a companion bill in the House that is similar-H.R. 2123. This bill has passed in the House.
H.R. 1162: No Hero Left Untreated Act H.R. 1162, requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a one year pilot program to treat a limited number of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, or opiate addiction or who have experienced military sexual trauma by using magnetic EEG/EKG-guided resonance therapy. The bill also requires VA to submit a report on the pilot program. This has passed both the House and Senate and has been sent to the President.
H.R. 4335 Concerning service member burial and headstones for spouses and dependent children. This has passed the House and is in the Senate.
S. 2372 Concerning cemetery benefits. This has passed both the House and Senate and has gone to the President. This legislation has been signed into law by the President on June 6, 2018.
H.R. 3562 Amends Title 38 and authorizes the Secretary of the VA to furnish assistance for residence adaptations for Veterans in rehabilitation programs. This legislation has been signed into law by the President.
S. 1282 Re-designating certain DVS clinics in Montana. This has passed the House and Senate and has gone to the President. This was signed into law by the President on June 5, 2018.
H.R. 3663 Concerning the Huntington, West Virginia Medical Center. To be renamed the Hershal “Woody” Williams Medical Center. This has passed the House and Senate and has gone to the President.
H.R. 4334 Concerning women’s health care. This has passed the House and is now in the Senate.
The following bills have recently been signed into law.
H.R. 4958, Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018. (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2018, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Each such increase shall be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date.
H.R. 324, State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Improvement Act of 2017, was signed by the President on March 27, 2018
H.R. 3656, concerning memorial headstones and markers for eligible spouses and dependent children of those who served and whose remains are unavailable. This legislation was signed by the President, March 16, 2018.
H.R. 2519 The American Legion 100th Anniversary Coin
H.R. 2288 The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017- this addresses appeals that Veterans may make to decisions that affect them.
H.R. 1329 The Veteran's Compensation, COLA, Act of 2017
There are several bills that you may want to watch and express your opinion to your legislators. They have passed the House and now are in the Senate.
S. 2134, the Andrew White Veterans Community Care Opioid Safety Act. This was introduced by bipartisan support in November 2017. This is to strengthen opioid therapy safety and pain care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is named in memory of West Virginia Veteran, Andrew White. This bill has been introduced.
H.R. 4173 Veterans Crisis Line Study Act of 2017 has passed in the House and moved to the Senate.
H.R. 3262 Physicians Assistant Employment and Education Act-which provides for education for Veterans that served in medical jobs in the military and helps if they want to further their education in the medical field. This bill has passed in the House and moved into the Senate.
The following bill has passed the Senate:
S. 925 Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support Act of 2017. This bill has passed in the Senate. There is a companion bill in the House that is similar-H.R. 2123. This bill has passed in the House.
The Gold Star Families Voice Act Signed into Law, November 29, 2016
Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) announced today that the Gold Star Families Voices Act (HR 4511)-which expands the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project (VHP) to include family members of veterans who died as a result of their service or who are missing in action-has been signed into law.
Photo Courtesy C-Span
"The new law honors the men and women who gave 'the last full measure of devotion' in the service of our nation by allowing family members to tell their stories on their behalf," said Smith, who served as chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and authored more than a dozen laws to expand the benefits and services provided to our nation's veterans and surviving family members. "The Veterans History Project is designed to help preserve and catalog the memories of our nation's veterans so that current and future generations may hear and better appreciate the realities of war and the sacrifices borne by those who served in uniform.
"With enactment of this legislation, we are adding new voices to this rich history project—and recording the sacrifices of all who have served. Family members will now have the opportunity to create a lasting record of their fallen loved ones."
Congress created the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress in 2000 to collect and catalog the stories of American war veterans. The project has been a great success.
Until today, the project accepted only first-hand accounts of living veterans, unintentionally leaving out the men and women who did not return from the battlefield. Under Smith's law, immediate family members can now participate on a veteran's behalf including parents, spouses, siblings and/or children.
"The Gold Star Families Voices Act would not be law today without the tireless advocacy of the Gold Star Mothers organization. They are an inspiration; having lost their children in service to our nation, they continue to successfully work to better meet the needs of veterans and their families. They have turned their grief into advocacy: working for veterans, for military families, and especially, for the memories of their children," Smith continued. "Allowing them to share these memories ensures all Americans can hear, appreciate, remember, and honor these patriots."
Smith's bill is endorsed by the New Jersey Gold Star Mothers organization, whose President, Judi Tapper—the proud mother of Petty Officer First Class David Tapper, a Navy Seal who was killed in Afghanistan on August 20, 2003—stated: "Never in history has there been a forum to replace our heroes' silenced voices. This legislation provides it. In their names, may their stories be told."
The Second Vice President of the National American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., Becky Christmas, said: "Rep. Smith's legislation gives our children a voice that they no longer have. The Gold Star Families Voices Act will ensure that the experiences and lives of all veterans, including our sons and daughters who fought and died for our country, are remembered, honored and preserved. As Gold Star Parents, we are encouraged to know that the bill is closer to becoming a reality. Our hearts are touched, that our children who gave so much, continue to be heard."
TJ Fearon, former Vietnam-era Seabee, Gold Star Family Liaison, who brought the issue to Rep. Smith's attention earlier this year said: "I am honored to have assisted in returning the Voices of my Brothers and Sisters in Arms that never returned. They now shall be properly remembered for their sacrifice."
Senator Roy Blunt, who led the effort to pass this bill in the Senate, said: "We would not be the nation we are today if not for the profound acts of courage and selflessness of our fallen heroes. We, as Americans, owe it to these men and women to know their names, to honor their deeds, and to preserve their memories. The Gold Star Families Voices Act makes an invaluable project even better by giving the family members of our missing and fallen service members the opportunity to share their stories and ensure they become a part of our nation's historical record. I thank American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. and Representative Chris Smith for championing this bill, and my Senate colleagues for getting it to the president's desk."