Legislation of Interest

For a comprehensive list of military- and veteran-related legislation, go to Military.com.

Up-to-date Legislative news:  http://www.military.com/legislative-news

"Action Alerts" at Military.com

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs:  http://www.govtrack.us/congress/committee.xpd?id=SSVA
note:  This is not an official government site.

H.R.4986 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Presented to President Bush to sign Jan. 24, 2008

To provide for the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, as previously enrolled, with certain modifications to address the foreign sovereign immunities provisions of title 28, United States Code, with respect to the attachment of property in certain judgments against Iraq, the lapse of statutory authorities for the payment of bonuses, special pays, and similar benefits for members of the uniformed services, and for other purposes.

 S.2536
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain debts to the United States in the case of veterans who die as a result of a service-connected disability incurred or aggravated on active duty in a combat zone, and for other purposes.

S.38 Veterans' Mental Health Outreach and Access Act of 2007
A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program for the provision of readjustment and mental health services to veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes.

S.713 Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act of 2007
A bill to ensure dignity in care for members of the Armed Forces recovering from injuries.

S.723 Montgomery GI Bill Enhancement Act of 2007
A bill to provide certain enhancements to the Montgomery GI Bill Program for certain individuals who serve as members of the Armed Forces after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and for other purposes.

S.117 Lane Evans Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act of 2007
A bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and services for members of the Armed Forces, veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, and other veterans, to require reports on the effects of the Global War on Terrorism, and for other purposes.

H.R.612
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the period of eligibility for health care for combat service in the Persian Gulf War or future hostilities from two years to five years after discharge or release.

S.383
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the period of eligibility for health care for combat service in the Persian Gulf War or future hostilities from two years to five years after discharge or release.

S.1817 
To ensure proper administration of the discharge of members of the Armed Forces for personality disorder, and for other purposes.

H.R.3167 Fair Mental Health Evaluation for Returning Veterans Act
To impose a temporary moratorium on the discharge of members of the Armed Forces for personality disorder, except in certain specified cases.

H.R.3082 Montgomery GI Bill Degree Extension Act of 2007
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the time limitation for the use of entitlement to educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill for certain persons actively pursuing a qualifying educational degree or certificate.

S.22  Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a program of educational assistance for members of the Armed Forces who serve in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.

This bill would, among other things, give service members a monthly stipend of $1,000 while they attend college full-time.  The Defense Department believes these benefits are too generous.   Acting Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Manpower and Personnel, Tom Bush, testified before the House Veterans Affairs subcommittee on economic opportunity that “attracting qualified [military] recruits using large, across-the-board basic benefits incurs the risk that many who enter for the [G.I. Bill] benefits will leave as soon as they can use them.”  Do you think our service members should be offered a stipend to help them use their educational benefits?

H.R.3997 Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2007
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide earnings assistance and tax relief to members of the uniformed services, volunteer firefighters, and Peace Corps volunteers, and for other purposes.

H.R.3780 Military Child College Affordability Act (Introduced in House)
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require a State to charge in-State tuition rates to active-duty members of the Armed Forces domiciled or stationed on active duty in that State and to the dependents of such members.

S.2160 The Veterans Pain Care Act of 2007
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a pain care initiative in health care facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

H.R.3793 Required Pay for Injured Vets
This bill would amend title 37, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Defense to continue to pay certain bonuses (enlistment, special assignment, and/or selective reenlistment bonuses) to a member of the Armed Forces who is forced to retire or separate from the Armed Forces due to a combat-related injury.

S.1314 Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2007
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

H.R.67 Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2007
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

S.2536
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain debts to the United States in the case of veterans who die as a result of a service-connected disability incurred or aggravated on active duty in a combat zone, and for other purposes.

S.2162
A bill to improve the treatment and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders, and for other purposes.

Bill would clear vets’ estates of VA debt

Rick Maze - Staff writer
Wednesday Jan 23, 2008A bill that would block the Department of Veterans Affairs from trying to collect money from the estates of service members who die in combat was introduced Tuesday by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.

Her bill, S 2536, applies only to debts to the VA, and not to money owed to private-sector creditors or other federal agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service…

Few people die owing the VA money, but Hutchison aides found that VA has collected more than $56,000 from the families of 22 deceased soldiers, mostly National Guard and reserve members called to active duty who received overpayments of GI Bill education benefits.

To read the entire story: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/military_veteransestates_080122w/