Buchanan’s three bills would support America’s veterans

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) on June 30 sponsored three separate pieces of legislation that support United States military veterans.  

“As someone who represents over 64,000 veterans in Florida’s 16th district, serving our nation’s heroes is one of my top priorities,” Rep. Buchanan said. “The brave men and women who served our country in uniform deserve all the care and respect a grateful nation can offer every day — not just on Independence Day.”

The Data Recorders Installed in Vehicles Equipped So Armed Forces Endure (DRIVE SAFE) Act, H.R. 4399, would direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the potential inclusion of black box data recorders in tactical vehicles of the Armed Forces, according to the congressional record bill summary. 

The congressman says the bill, which is under consideration by the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, aims to evaluate if equipping tactical vehicles with black box data recorders could prevent future accidents.

Rep. Buchanan also introduced the bipartisan Veteran Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act, H.R. 4400, alongside lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA). The bill is under consideration by the U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

If enacted, H.R. 4400 would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to review the deaths of all veterans it treated who died by suicide or from a drug overdose in the last five years, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Buchanan’s staff.

The new data generated by H.R. 4400 would be used to better treat veterans suffering from both mental and physical injuries, the summary says, noting that the legislation is endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and AMVETS.

Additionally, Rep. Buchanan introduced the bipartisan Restoring Earned Veterans Benefits Act, H.R. 4401 with lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) to streamline the process for service members returning to veteran status after a subsequent tour of active duty.

Currently, if a veteran returns to active duty, then subsequently leaves military service and returns to veteran status, they must proactively re-apply for veteran benefits, an extra step that would be removed under an enacted H.R. 4401, according to the summary.

H.R. 4401 is under consideration by both the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the House Armed Services Committee.