Kim’s bipartisan bill expanding access to VA resources signed into law

A bipartisan bill cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) to expand access to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) resources for military veterans and caretakers recently became law.

President Joe Biden on Nov. 22 signed into law the Veterans and Family Information Act, H.R. 2093, which Rep. Kim introduced in March with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). The new law requires the VA to make all of its fact sheets available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and each of the 10 most commonly spoken languages not listed. 

It also requires the VA to establish a publicly available website that provides links to all VA fact sheets and to report to Congress regarding the utilization of such fact sheets, according to the congressional record summary.

“For too long, many veterans and their caretakers who do not speak English as a first language have been forced to rely on others for assistance in understanding VA benefits they have earned,” Rep. Kim said. “The brave men and women who served in our nation’s uniform deserve the best care and to be able to understand the resources available to them. 

“That is why I’m proud to right this wrong and expand VA resources so U.S. veterans are aware of and can access the benefits they have earned,” the congresswoman said. “I am grateful to Rep. Jeffries for joining me in this bipartisan effort to stand up for our veterans.”

H.R. 2093 in June passed the U.S. House of Representatives and then received U.S. Senate approval on Nov. 2 before being presented to the president on Nov. 16 for his signature to make it law.

“Providing veterans and their caregivers information without the burden or delay of translation will empower them to best access the benefits earned through their service to our nation,” said Rep. Jeffries. “I applaud President Biden for signing this important bill into law and thank my colleague, Congresswoman Young Kim, for joining me in championing this bipartisan legislation.”