As Congress prepares to enter a “lame duck” session between the presidential election on November 8 and the end of the year, there are still many pending pieces of critical veterans legislation on the table. DAV is urging Congress to take action before the new administration takes office on these priorities for ill and injured veterans.

“We understand that during these last months of the 114th Congress, a lot of attention will be focused on the new administration and the changes ahead,” said DAV National Legislative Director Joy Ilem. “But now is not the time to let important veterans legislation fall through the cracks. After the dust settles from the elections, we are urging Congress to move forward on the many pending legislative measures that would improve benefits and services for ill and injured veterans.”

One of the major pieces of legislation still pending in the Senate is the Veterans First Act (S. 2921), an omnibus bill that includes numerous provisions to strengthen benefits and services for veterans, including a long overdue expansion of the comprehensive caregiver benefit program to veterans of all eras. There are also a number of other bills containing DAV legislative priorities pending in Congress, including several bills that already passed the House and are awaiting Senate action.