July 23, 2015

Manchin Applauds Committee Passage of the '21st Century Veterans Benefits Delivery Act'

Comprehensive legislation includes three of Senator Manchin’s provisions

Washington, D.C. – As a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today applauded the Committee’s passage of the 21st Century Veterans Benefits Delivery Act, legislation to increase accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and improve veterans’ benefits and health care. 

The 21st Century Veterans Benefits Delivery Act includes three provisions that were cosponsored by Senator Manchin. They aim to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims, protect spouses and dependents of veteran-owned small businesses, and allow highly trained servicemembers to transition into caring for veterans at VA hospitals.

“Veterans and their families sacrifice so much in defense of our country, and they should expect to have the best services and opportunities available when they return home,” Senator Manchin said. “In order to make sure our veterans receive the reliable care that they need and deserve, we need to continue to pass commonsense reforms that allow the VA to run more efficiently and better provide for our veterans. That is why I am proud that these three measures that focus on improving the VA were included in this bill. I encourage all my colleagues to work together and put our brave veterans first and pass these important reforms.” 

Below is a list of Senator Manchin’s provisions that were included in the bill:

  • The Disability Claims provision would create a system that can withstand surges in disability claims without generating another veteran disability claims backlog.
  • The Veterans Small Business Opportunity and Protection provision would protect spouses and dependents of veteran-owned small businesses after servicemembers pass away from a disability or in the line of duty.
  • The Frontlines to Lifelines provision would expand a pilot program to hire combat medics, medical technicians and corpsman straight from active duty service to care for their fellow veterans at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals around the country.  It would also allow for the transfer of credentialing data from the Department of Defense to the VA for DOD health care providers that are hired by the VA. 

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