In our final weeks of session for the year, the House of Representatives acted on what I believe to be one of our most important constitutional duties: providing for our nation’s defense. We also passed four additional bills maintaining our military readiness and enhancing the assistance we offer our veterans.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) outlines the budget for our military and thereby helps shape the Department of Defense’s priorities for the coming fiscal year. The recently passed NDAA rolls back the drawdown of our military strength and readiness by maintaining the size of the US Army and providing for the expansion of the Marine Corps and Air Force. The NDAA also makes important investments in newer, more effective, and more reliable equipment for our armed forces. One of its most important provisions is the pay raise it offers our service members – their biggest raise in five years – because of caps placed by the president.

Next, we pushed The No Hero Left Untreated Act, which directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement a pilot program to restore proper brain functioning for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain energy, and opioid addiction among other conditions.

The third VA-related bill was The Ethical Patient Care for Veterans Act. This improves reporting procedures regarding unethical practices at VA facilities. Under current law, any VA physician may submit a report on unethical practices they witness, but due to VA bureaucracy, it can take up to 100 days to act on them and refer the matter to a state licensing board. This new legislation would encourage physicians at VA facilities to submit their reports directly to a state licensing board for quicker action.

The fourth piece of legislation was the WINGMAN Act. This act would enable veterans to authorize congressional staffers handling their casework, like those in my district offices, to access their benefits claims information to speed the resolution of casework. These congressional staffers would be required to complete the same certification process through the Department of Veterans Affairs that is required of agents and attorneys to have access to its claims record system. My staff has resolved over 300 veterans-related cases in 2016, a little less than one a day. While my caseworkers have already proven themselves to be highly effective, the WINGMAN Act offers them another tool in assisting veterans timely.

Finally, the Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act requires the Department of Defense to inform the estimated 14,000 service members who had taxes improperly withheld from severance pay for combat-related injuries.  Those service members would then be allowed to file amended tax returns without limitation to reclaim the improperly withheld funds. 

As always, I have the utmost respect and gratitude for those who have sacrificed for this great country. I believe that in return, we must ensure that our active service members have the necessary funding and equipment to complete their jobs and guarantee that our veterans are receiving the quality, professional care and service they deserve. These bills will enact meaningful changes to ensure that these selfless men and women have the benefits and tools they need to succeed.