Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3479, the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2018. This legislation represents bipartisan, bicameral agreement that would extend a number of expiring authorities impacting the lives of our veterans and their caregivers, their dependents, and their survivors. Swift passage of this legislation today would ensure that many of the benefits, programs, and services that they rely on would continue. The authorities that would be extended in this bill include authorities to provide nursing home care, counseling for women veterans, assistance for homeless veterans, transportation, childcare, adaptive sports programs, and housing and home loan services, just to name a few. To be clear, these are not new authorities. The costs associated with them have been assumed in the House-passed appropriations bill for fiscal year 2019 and the 2020 advance appropriations. In addition to the extension of current programs, the bill would also make permanent several provisions, including provisions related to VA's home loan program. It makes permanent the authority for disabled servicemembers to begin using VA vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits while on Active Duty. It makes permanent eligibility for specially adaptive housing grants for certain post-9/11 veterans who have sustained severe disabilities while on Active Duty.…”