The House of Representatives has passed a $3 billion supplemental appropriations bill to ensure that veterans and their survivors receive their monthly benefits, with the bill now moving to the Senate for consideration.
The bill, which was approved by the House, is needed to fill a multibillion-dollar hole in veterans benefits funding.
U.S. Senator Jack Reed is urging the Senate to take up and pass the bill to fill the multi-billion dollar hole in veterans benefits funding.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has warned that up to 7 million veterans and their beneficiaries are at risk of missing their October 1 benefits if Congress fails to act, the summary said, adding that about 740,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care since the 2022 PACT Act law was signed into law, which significantly increased the number of veterans filing claims for disability compensation and health care services.
“Congress needs to do its job and provide these funds to our veterans and their families and prevent any adverse impacts to VA patients,” said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., a co-sponsor of the bill. “The men and women who served our nation in uniform are depending on these benefits and deserve them in a timely manner without needless uncertainty.”
The PACT Act law, which provides benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service, has been successful in helping more veterans access those benefits, according to Reed’s office.
“This bill should have already passed on a bipartisan basis to ensure VA hospitals are fully staffed, and can deliver care for our veterans without needless delay or disruption,” he said.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
