WASHINGTON, Nov. 20—The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) applauds the U.S. Senate for unanimously approving S. 1963, “The Caregiver and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009.”
As passed, S. 1963 creates a comprehensive new program to support family caregivers of severely disabled veterans, and strengthens VA health care programs for women veterans, homeless veterans, veterans with mental health needs, and veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury.
“The Senate’s overwhelming statement of support for this bill sends an unmistakable message that our government has an obligation to provide comprehensive support to family caregivers of severely wounded and disabled veterans,” DAV National Commander Roberto Barrera said. “S. 1963 also contains landmark provisions that will help ensure that women veterans, who have played an increasingly essential role in our military, receive quality, timely and gender-appropriate health care services from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), equal in every respect to that afforded male veterans,” Barrera said.
S. 1963 combines the content of two measures previously approved by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, S. 252 and S. 801, into a single VA health care omnibus bill. Since the House of Representatives has already passed similar, but separate veterans health bills, the two bodies must now reach an agreement on identical legislation before it can be sent to the President for his approval.
“DAV looks forward to working together with the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees and other interested veterans service organizations to develop the strongest veterans health care legislation we can to aid all veterans,” Commander Barrera said. “In particular, we believe that disabled veterans from all eras could benefit from family caregiver support services and will work to see that the final legislation moves in that direction,” he said.
Commander Barrera expressed DAV’s gratitude to several Senators who played leading roles in developing and moving the legislation successfully through the Senate.
“Senator Daniel Akaka, Chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, has been a tireless champion for veterans health care programs throughout his tenure, and his skillful work on S. 1963 was central to the Senate’s approval,” Barrera said. “A veteran himself, Chairman Akaka has proven to be a reliable and effective leader, always ready to stand up for our nation’s veterans.”
“Senator Richard Burr (N.C.), the Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, worked in a truly bipartisan manner with the Chairman to help craft this legislation and then provide crucial leadership to help it overcome barriers that may otherwise have derailed it,” Barrera said. “DAV applauds Senator Burr for putting the interests of veterans first.”
“DAV also applauds the relentless efforts of Senator Patty Murray to enact legislation that will improve the lives of all veterans, especially women veterans. Senator Murray’s landmark women veterans health care legislation was included within S. 1963, and her passionate advocacy for women veterans has been crucial throughout this process,” Barrera said.
The 1.2 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, represents this nation’s disabled veterans. It is dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for our nation’s disabled veterans and their families. More information is available at www.dav.org.
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