Missouri is home to nearly 500,000 veterans who have put their lives on the line to protect our freedom and way of life. We owe them a debt of gratitude for the countless sacrifices they made for us.
It’s important that we say thank you to our veterans, but it’s also important that we put those words into action.
This year, the Senate has passed and President Trump has signed into law several bills to support veterans and their families. Here’s an overview of the Senate’s work to honor our veterans:
VA Mission Act: In May, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan VA Mission Act to modernize veterans’ healthcare services at the VA and improve access to the high-quality, timely care veterans deserve.
Veteran Peer Act: I was proud that my Veteran PEER Act was included in the VA Mission Act and signed into law. The Veteran PEER Act expands veterans’ access to peer counseling specialists to better combat the risks of suicide and treat associated mental health conditions.
Veterans Employment Training Programs: I chair the Labor, Health and Human Services, & Education appropriations subcommittee. Our funding bill for FY2018provided $300 million for the Veterans Employment Training (VETS) Programs. This program provides separating service members with employment training and additional services as they transition to the civilian workforce.
Military Construction & Veterans Affairs Funding Bill: This bill included several priorities for Missouri veterans, such as funding for the VA electronic health record system. This will help streamline care as service members transition from the military to the VA system. The funding bill also included resources for medical facility improvements and cemetery expansion at the Jefferson Barracks Division of the VA St. Louis Health Care System. In response to the misconduct at the Fayetteville VA, the bill also included a provision to increase accountability and help prevent similar incidents in the future.
As we head into a new Congress, I will continue working to ensure we deliver on our promises to the brave men & women who served.
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