Rosendale Announces Legislation To Improve Access To Veterans’ Services
U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., Mike Levin, D-Calif., Tim Ryan, D-Ohio,, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., reintroduced the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act, a bipartisan bill to authorize federal funding for county veterans service officers who are often the best resource to help veterans and their families understand resources at their disposal, file benefit claims and represent veterans in VA hearings.
Right now, many veterans are not utilizing their earned benefits because of lack of information or ability to complete necessary paperwork. To reduce this underutilization and increase promotion of services, the bill strengthens county veterans service officers’ efforts to conduct outreach and provide support to underserved veterans, which can improve overall health and wellness.
The bill was also introduced in the Senate by Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Dan Sullivan, R-Ark.
“Our nation’s veterans have selflessly served and sacrificed to protect our country and the freedoms we hold dear. Yet some veterans, especially those in rural communities, continue to have difficulty accessing the benefits they earned,” Rosendale said. “I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation with Rep. Levin to strengthen and expand the work of county veterans service officers, who serve as a valuable resource to ensure veterans and their families are able to access all of their benefits they were promised.”
“We have a responsibility to ensure that veterans and their families have easy access to the benefits and services that they have earned,” Levin said. “That is why my colleagues and I are reintroducing this bipartisan legislation to support the work of county veterans service officers who interact directly with our local veterans every day. I’m proud to introduce the bicameral CVSO Act and look forward to advancing this legislation through the House with bipartisan support once again.”
“Navigating the VA’s bureaucracy can be a nightmare for those who have served, but our county’s veteran services officers are at the tip of the spear helping our veterans access the benefits they’ve earned,” Ryan said. “The least we can do for the men and women who serve our country is to make sure they have they support they need when they get home. This bill is a step in the right direction to ensure the federal government does more to support our community heroes.”
“I have had too many conversations with veterans in Eastern Washington who tell me they don’t have the resources they need to access their benefits. This is heartbreaking, and it should not be the case,” Rodgers said. “By funding additional VSOs in communities across the country – especially in rural areas – we are making a commitment to our veterans that we will not let them slip through the cracks. This common sense legislation is overdue, and it will go a long way towards ensuring those who served receive the benefits they’ve earned.”
“County Veteran Service Officers are often the first point of contact for our veterans to access the benefits and services available to them— particularly in rural communities,” Baldwin said. “It is nothing short of our duty to ensure that those who bravely serve our country can better access and utilize their VA benefits with ease. This bipartisan legislation will make federal investments to help connect veterans and their families to the resources and care they’ve earned.”
The CVSO Act will authorize $50 million annually for five years for competitive grants to expand the work of CVSOs or comparable entities. VA will award grants to states in order to improve outreach to veterans, assist in the development and submittal of claims on behalf of veterans, hire additional CVSOs, and train CVSOs for VA accreditation. To receive funds, a state must submit an application including a detailed plan for the use of these funds, how they will meet underserved veterans’ needs, and other information.
