San Juan Capistrano, CA – U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA), Chair of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, will lead a press calltomorrow to highlight several bipartisan bills he introduced to support veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other bills that have recently advanced in the legislative process. Rep. Levin will be joined by veterans who would be affected by hislegislation, including Army veteran Ryan Kules and Marine veteran Brian Tally. The President recently signed the Ryan Kules and Paul Benne Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act into law, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs recentlypassed the Brian Tally VA Employment Transparency Act.
Rep. Levin will also push for House passage of the Navy Seal Chief Petty Officer William ‘Bill’ Mulder (Ret.) Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2020, which wouldcreate a rapid retraining program for unemployed veterans and reservists, and the Homeless Veteran Coronavirus Response Act, which would expand and strengthen Department of Veterans Affairs(VA) services for homeless veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
WHAT: Discussion on Rep. Mike Levin’s Bipartisan Bills to Support Veterans
WHO: Rep. Mike Levin
Ryan Kules, Army Veteran and Wounded Warrior Project Combat Stress Recovery Program Director
Brian Tally, Marine Corps Veteran and advocate for the Brian Tally VA Employment Transparency Act
Jeffrey Jones, Army Veteran from Oceanside, CA
WHEN: Wednesday, August 26th, 10:30am PT
WHERE: Media interested in joining the call should RSVP to Eric.Mee@mail.house.gov to receive a Zoom link
Background on the Ryan Kules and Paul Benne Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act: This bill improves and expands the VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant Program. This program currently provides grants to the nation’s most severely disabled Veterans. Funds can be used to meet these Veterans’ uniquehousing needs by assisting with buying, building, and remodeling an adapted home.
Background on the Brian Tally VA Employment Transparency Act: This bill supports veterans with legal claims against the Department of Veterans Affairs or its contractors. The bill is named after Marine Veteran Brian Tally, who was denied the opportunity to file a medical malpracticeclaim due to a lack of transparency and efficiency at the VA. The VA failed to inform Tally that his doctor was a contractor and that his claim had to be filed in state court until after the statute of limitations had expired. The Brian Tally VA Transparency Act requires the VA, within 30 days of a veteran submitting a claim, to provide notice of the importance of securing legal counsel; the employment status of any individual involved in the claim; and the statute of limitationsin the relevant state if the claim involves a contractor.
Background on the Veterans Economic Recovery Act: In 2019, the veteran unemployment rate was 3.1%, the lowest in 19 years. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the veteran unemployment rose to nearly 12% in April 2020. The unemployment rate for post-9/11 veteranwomen reached 20% in April 2020, compared to 15.5% for non-veteran women. The centerpiece of the Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2020 would be the creation of a rapid retraining program to provide unemployed veterans and reservists with 12 months of educationalbenefits, to pursue training in high-demand occupations. The education benefits available under the rapid retraining program would be equivalent to the benefits provided under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The bill would also incorporate H.R. 5766, which was introduced by House Republican Leader McCarthy, to make needed improvements to the VET TEC pilot program and of H.R. 2326, which was introduced by Rep. Levin, to help servicemembers transition to civilianlife.
Background on the Homeless Veteran Coronavirus Response Act: The COVID-19 crisis has affected tens of thousands of homeless veterans as shelters have closed and funding for vital services have become strained. The bill allows VAto use existing funds for a wider range of services; authorizes the Department to collaborate with outside organizations to facilitate shelters on its properties; loosens restrictions on Grant and Per Diem (GPD) payments; and requires VA to ensure veteransparticipating in VA homeless programs have access to VA telehealth services.
