Last month, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs held a hearing to discuss pending veteran health and benefits legislation, including several bills supported by DAV. DAV’s Deputy National Legislative Director Adrian Atizado testified before the committee regarding 13 bills under consideration and three draft measures including two women veteran bills; S.681 the Deborah Sampson Act and S. 804 Women Veterans Access to Quality Care Act.

“Together these women veterans bills would address longstanding concerns and barriers to care that are discussed in DAV’s 2014 report, Women Veterans:  The Long Journey Home and DAV Resolution 129—calling for enhanced services for women veterans,” Atizado testified before the Committee.

Another high-priority bill on the agenda for the testimony was S. 591 the Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act of 2017. This measure would allow severely ill and injured veteran from all eras who meet the requisite clinical eligibility criteria to be permitted to participate in VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.

“DAV firmly believes it is simply unconscionable to deny comprehensive caregiver supports and services to veterans severely ill and injured in prior wars and to their family caregivers who clearly need help today after decades of caregiving and sacrifice,” testified Atizado.

“We are pleased the House and Senate Veterans Affairs’ Committees are moving forward on many of DAV’s key legislative priorities for the 115th Congress,” said DAV National Legislative Director Joy Ilem. “We hope these bills can be quickly and efficiently enacted for veterans.”