Bipartisan Support in the House Advances the Dole Act’s Veterans Care Reforms
The US House of Representatives has passed a comprehensive package, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (Dole Act), aimed at modernizing and expanding veterans’ health care and support services.
The bipartisan package prioritizes the needs of veterans, their families, and survivors over administrative hurdles. It was approved by an overwhelming 389-9 vote and enhances private-sector medical care options while strengthening services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The act significantly increases support for home- and community-based care by raising coverage for in-home care from 65% to 100%, ensuring that veterans can receive care at home and decreasing the burden on institutional settings. It also allows families of veterans who die at home to receive burial and funeral allowances, a benefit previously limited to deaths occurring in VA facilities.
This legislation improves access to private healthcare for veterans in rural areas by enhancing transportation assistance and covering emergency ambulance costs to non-VA hospitals. Mobile mammography and breast cancer screening services will also be expanded for rural veterans.
The act also emphasizes economic and career development for veterans, fully funding the Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET-TEC) program, which offers high-tech career training with an 85% success rate. Employment protections for National Guard members and Reservists returning to civilian jobs will also be modernized with increased protections and accountability at the Department of Labor. For homeless veterans, the act increases funding for service providers and expands transportation support for medical, housing, and job-related appointments.
Additionally, the legislation seeks to modernize VA operations by updating IT systems to expedite disability claims processing and mandating training for new VA employees on reporting misconduct. Audits of in-house VA police forces will address security weaknesses at hospitals and clinics, ensuring safer environments for veterans.
The Dole Act aims to balance increasing access to community-based care with preserving and improving VA-provided services. Lawmakers emphasized its focus on granting veterans’ greater choice and dignity in health care, bolstering economic opportunities, and ensuring accountability within the VA system. Senate has not yet taken up the measure, however, it’s passing in the house is a landmark step toward creating a more modern and efficient VA.
Reference
Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, HR 8371, 118th Congress (2023-2024). Accessed November 25, 2024. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371
