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Laws Pertaining to Veterans Health Care
Public Law No: 117-37 (08/25/2021) PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act
This bill implements a program and a policy related to service dog therapy for veterans. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a five-year pilot program to provide canine training to eligible veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as an element of a complementary and integrative health program. Eligible veterans are those who are enrolled in the VA health care system and have been recommended for participation by a qualified mental health care provider or clinical team.
The VA must seek to enter agreements containing specified elements with accredited nongovernmental entities that have demonstrated ability to provide canine training.
Veterans who participate in the program are authorized to adopt the dog they assisted in training if their health provider determines it is in the best interest of the veteran.
The bill also authorizes the VA to provide service dogs to veterans with mental illnesses, regardless of whether they have a mobility impairment.
Public Law No: 117-21 (06/30/2021) Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), during FY2022, to establish and maintain three new centers of the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) Program in areas with interest from personnel and a need for additional mental health care for rural veterans. The RANGE Program serves veterans in rural areas who are experiencing mental illness.
The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study and report on whether the VA has sufficient resources to serve rural veterans who need mental health care that is more intensive than traditional outpatient therapy.
Public Law No: 116-315 (1/5/2021) Homeless Veterans Coronavirus Response Act of 2020
This bill addresses the administration of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and benefits for homeless veterans during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency.
Public Law No: 116-283 (1/1/2021) National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
This bill has 83 titles and is related to 100 other bills. Section 9108 adds Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, and hypothyroidism to the list of Agent Orange presumptives.
Public Law No: 116-214 (12/5/2020) Veterans COMPACT Act pf 2020
This bill implements programs, policies, and reports related to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) transition assistance, suicide care, mental health education and treatment, health care, and women veteran care.
Public Law No: 116-185 (10/30/2020) Whole Veteran Act
Requires the VA to report on the implementation of its whole health approach to health care. The report must include an analysis of the accessibility and availability of a variety of services, including hypnosis and acupuncture. The whole health model is a holistic approach that looks at the many areas of life that may affect health in order to make a health plan suited for each individual based on his or her health goals.
Public Law No: 116-171 (10/17/2020) CMDR J.S. Hannon Vets Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019
Makes updates related to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) transition assistance, mental health care, care for women veterans, and telehealth care.
Public Law No: 116-23 (6/25/2019) Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019
Addresses certain health benefit and home loan programs for veterans. Specifically, extends the presumption of service-connection for certain diseases associated with herbicide (e.g., Agent Orange) exposure to veterans who served
- (1) offshore of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, or
- (2) in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific disabilities or diseases diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded.
Public Law No: 112-154 (08/06/2012) Honoring America's Vets and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families
Makes any veteran who served on active duty at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for at least 30 days between January 1, 1957, and December 31, 1987, and their family members, eligible for hospital care and medical services through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for any of 15 listed cancers and other illnesses or conditions, notwithstanding insufficient medical evidence to conclude that the illness or condition is attributable to such service.
Public Law No: 102-4 (2/6/1991) Agent Orange Act of 1991
Presumes the following diseases to be service-connected and resulting from exposure to dioxins and other herbicide agents during service in Vietnam during the Vietnam era unless there is affirmative evidence to the contrary: (1) non-Hodgkins lymphoma, each soft-tissue sarcoma (with certain exceptions), and chloracne or other consistent acneform diseases becoming manifest to a degree of disability of ten percent or more; and (2) those additional diseases that the Secretary determines warrant such a presumption by reason of having a positive association with a herbicide agent, if they become manifest within the appropriate period.
Laws Pertaining to Veterans Family
Public Law No: 116-133 (03/26/2020) Citizenship for Children of Military Members and Civil Servants
Establishes that a foreign-born child of a U.S. citizen member of the Armed Forces or government employee may automatically acquire U.S. citizenship even if the child is not residing in the United States.
Public Law No: 112-154 (08/06/2012) Honoring America's Vets and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families
Makes any veteran who served on active duty at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for at least 30 days between January 1, 1957, and December 31, 1987, and their family members, eligible for hospital care and medical services through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for any of 15 listed cancers and other illnesses or conditions, notwithstanding insufficient medical evidence to conclude that the illness or condition is attributable to such service.
Laws Pertaining to Veteran's Education & Business
Public Law No: 117-67 (11/30/2021) Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to consult with the Department of Defense to identify and refer members of the Armed Forces with health care occupations for employment with the VA during their separation from the Armed Forces.
The VA must refer interested members to a recruiter for consideration of open positions in the member's specialty and geography of interest. Referrals must not be made earlier than one year before the member's separation from the Armed Forces.
Public Law No: 117-16 (06/08/2021) Training in High-demand Roles to Improve Vet Employment Act
This bill makes updates to VA training and education policies and programs, including by amending the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020.
Public Law No: 116-183 (10/30/2020) Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2019
Applies certain small business subcontracting limitations to contracts that the VA awards to a small business concern owned and controlled by a veteran or a veteran with a service-connected disability.
Public Law No: 116-140 (04/28/2020) Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020
Addresses education programs and assistance for veterans during the covered period from March 1-December 21, 2020.
Public Law No: 116-134 (03/26/2020) Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act of 2019
Requires the Department of Labor to revise its registered apprenticeship programs to include additional program requirements for increasing the access of veterans and their survivors or dependents to such programs.
Public Law No: 116-115 (02/11/2020) Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act
Addresses the participation of veterans in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, including by making veterans eligible for certain National Science Foundation (NSF) programs.
Public Law No: 116-107 (01/17/2020) Veterans Legacy Program
Authorizes the VA to establish a grant program to conduct cemetery research and produce educational materials for the Veterans Legacy Program. The program provides the public with engagement and educational opportunities regarding veterans interred in national, state, or tribal veterans' cemeteries. Additionally, the bill requires the VA to report on the efficacy of the grant program.
Laws Pertaining to Veterans Finances & Housing
Public Law No: 117-45 (10/08/2021) Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2021
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase the amounts payable for wartime disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Specifically, the VA must increase the amounts by the same percentage as the cost-of-living increase in benefits for Social Security recipients that is effective on December 1, 2021. The bill requires the VA to publish the amounts payable, as increased, in the Federal Register.
Public Law No: 116-52 (08/23/2019) Honoring American Vets in Extreme Need Act of 2019 (HAVEN Act)
Modifies the treatment of certain veterans' benefits in bankruptcy. Excludes from a debtor's current monthly income certain benefits, including disability benefits, paid by the VAs or the Department of Defense.
Public Law No: 116-33 (07/25/2019) Protecting Affordable Mortgages for Veterans Act of 2019
Revises loan seasoning requirements related to a refinanced VA housing loan.
Public Law No: 115-422 (01/03/2019) Forever GI Bill Housing Payment Fulfillment Act of 2018
Requires the VA to establish a team of experts to report to Congress addressing issues in the implementation of educational housing assistance for veterans. Specifically, the team will address issues with the payment of educational housing stipends to eligible veterans. Changes made to the act affected the calculation of the housing stipend amount based on campus location.