Capitol News

Today, the House Veterans Affairs Committee has given approval to three bills spearheaded by Congressman Tom Barrett of Michigan's 7th Congressional District. These bills are now set to be reviewed by the full House of Representatives.

"When someone signs up and puts on the uniform to defend our freedom, they do so with an understanding that the United States will uphold its promise to care for and support them when they return home," said Barrett. "These bills are about bringing the Department of Veterans Affairs into the 21st century so we can meet that obligation with effective and efficient delivery of services. I’m proud to see these three bills advance through committee, and I look forward to bringing this effort to drive innovation and technological reforms to the House floor for our nation’s heroes."

The first bill, known as the FRAUD Act (H.R. 3834), aims at safeguarding taxpayer money from being wasted on fraudulent claims submitted to the VA by third-party administrators. This legislation proposes that the VA implement a system designed to monitor third-party payments accurately.

Another piece of legislation, titled Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act (H.R. 3481), seeks amendments in current law allowing G.I. Bill updates via digital messaging rather than just physical mail. The proposed change could save costs for the VA while providing veterans with digital options for receiving updates.

Lastly, the Veterans Hearing Health Expansion Act (H.R. 3088) focuses on expanding access for veterans needing hearing aid specialists even if they do not operate within VA facilities.