Biden Signs Major Veterans Bill, Expanding Caregiver Support and Tackling Homelessness
Big news for veterans and their families: President Joe Biden has just signed a sweeping new bill into law that promises to improve support for veteran caregivers and homeless veterans and provide other important benefits.
The legislation, officially called the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, was signed into law Thursday evening. This bill is one of the most comprehensive pieces of veterans legislation to pass in recent years, combining several smaller measures into a single package designed to improve the quality of life for veterans across the country. It covers everything from caregiver support to homelessness programs, education benefits, job training, and even health care.
Named after former Senator Elizabeth Dole—an advocate for veterans and caregiver rights—the bill addresses a range of issues that have long been a concern for both veterans and their families.
Key Provisions of the New Law
The bill’s centerpiece is a significant change to home care for veterans. Many veterans who need nursing care at home rely on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help cover the costs. However, until now, the VA only covered about 65% of these expenses, leaving families to pick up the rest. Under the new law, that coverage increases to 100%, making home nursing care far more affordable for veterans who wish to live out their final years in the comfort of their own homes.
This change comes after years of advocacy from veterans’ organizations and caregivers who argue that veterans should be able to age and receive care at home if that’s their choice. In addition to expanding the financial support for home care, the law also establishes a new grant program for mental health care specifically for veteran caregivers. Caregivers, who often face immense physical and emotional stress, will now have more resources available to support their well-being.
The Road to Passage: Some Politics, But Bipartisan Support
Over the summer, there was a lot of political wrangling around a controversial provision concerning the VA’s community care program. This program allows veterans to see doctors outside of the VA system; there were disagreements over managing that. Eventually, the bill was amended to remove one of the more contentious provisions. Still, another key measure was left intact: the law now bans VA administrators from overriding a VA doctor’s referral for a veteran to receive outside care.
This change is a big win for veterans who might otherwise be blocked from accessing non-VA healthcare that their doctors recommend.
Combatting Homelessness Among Veterans
Another key aspect of the bill tackles veteran homelessness. The law boosts the funding the VA can provide to organizations that offer housing support for homeless veterans, ensuring these groups have the resources necessary to improve their services and care.
The bill also gives the VA more flexibility in how it can assist homeless veterans. The VA will now be able to provide essential items like bedding, food, hygiene supplies, and even transportation to medical appointments. These changes are designed to make it easier for veterans to regain stability and rebuild their lives after experiencing homelessness.
Other Notable Changes
This bill brings great changes for veterans that are looking to further thier own education and career:
- It extends a high-tech job training program for veterans through 2027, giving them more opportunities to gain skills for in-demand fields.
- It allows GI Bill recipients to continue receiving a housing allowance even if they’re only part-time students during their final semester, providing a financial cushion for those who might be balancing work and school.
- Rural veterans will also benefit, as the VA is now required to reimburse ambulance costs for some of them, helping to reduce the burden of transportation to medical appointments.
A Long Journey to This Moment
The bill went to the president’s desk after being passed by the House in a 382-12 vote on December 16th.
This bill isn’t flawless but, it is a big step in the right direction to ensure veterans get the care and support they deserve—whether that’s at home, in their education, or as they battle homelessness.
For more information on this bill click here.
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