Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran responds to a question during a roundtable discussion in Pima during a previous visit.
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WASHINGTON D.C. – On Tuesday, May 21, Congressman Tom O’Halleran voted to pass nine bipartisan bills to support Arizona veterans. The legislation includes investments in suicide prevention programs, workforce training for transitioning service members, and improved and expanded care for veterans.
“The brave men and women of our Armed Forces have served our nation with honor, and when they transition to civilian life, they should have our support. The care and services provided to our veterans must be the highest quality, but it is clear that, especially in rural communities, this is not happening,” O’Halleran said. “Today, I voted for nine bills that address deficiencies within the VA and provide critical resources to veterans and their families. I am committed to ensuring our veterans receive quality care regardless of their zip code, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get the job done.”
The legislation that passed Tuesday included:
- H.R. 2333: directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct an assessment of the responsibilities, workload, and vacancy rates of Department of Veterans Affairs suicide prevention coordinators.
- H.R. 2326: creates a pilot program for off-base transition training to make the transition process easier for veterans and spouses by giving them more time to access resources and information provided to them. The legislation would also create a grant program for organizations to provide multiple transition assistance services such as resume assistance, interview training, and job recruitment training from a central source.
- H.R. 1812: expands access to the Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Centers to members of the National Guard who have been called to Active service for Federal or State emergencies and Coast Guard members who have been called to Active service.
- H.R. 1200: increases, effective December 1, 2019, the rate of the compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
