Background: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Committee Chairman, Bernie Sanders introduced the Veterans Health and
Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Resotration Act of 2014. The bill, S.
1950, is the most comprehensive veterans legislation to be introduced
in decades. It addresses many of the VFW's legislative priority goals,
including a full repeal of the military retiree one percent COLA reduction that
penalizes working-age military retirees and their families.
If signed into law, this sweeping legislation would expand
and improve health care and benefit services to all generations of veterans and
their families. Most notably, it would expand the current caregiver law to
include all generations of veterans and provide advance appropriations to
ensure monthly compensation and pension as well as education payments are
protected from future budget battles. The bill also offers in-state
tuition protection for recently transitioned veterans, improves access to
mental health and treatment for victims of sexual assault in the military, and
authorizes construction of more than 20 Community Bases Outpatient Clinics to
serve veterans in rural and remote communities.
Action Needed: Call and email your
Senators today. urge them to pass S. 1950, the Veterans
Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Restoration Act of 2014. Tell
them that this historic legislation will provide vital services to all
generations of veterans and their families. Remind them that past, present and
future veterans have earned the critical services this legislation will
provide.