The U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 14 passed two bipartisan bills cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) that would provide support to United States military veterans and their families. Both bills advanced to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
“Not one, but two bills our office worked tirelessly on to help ensure our veterans receive the benefits they deserve were passed on the House floor today,” said Rep. Mace on Wednesday. “With so many veterans in our district and across the country, we owe it to them, as we serve those who have served us.”
The House-approved Faster Payments to Veterans’ Survivors Act of 2022, H.R. 8260, which would shorten the timeframe for designating benefits under U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) life insurance programs to improve how the VA treats undisbursed life insurance benefits, according to the text of the bill.
Rep. Mace led 28 other original cosponsors in introducing H.R. 8260, which was sponsored on July 1 by U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH).
“Our brave service members put their lives on the line for our country. We must ensure the family members and spouses of the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice are quickly provided the funds and services they need to avoid financial uncertainty,” said Rep. Mace. “This legislation will improve the VA’s management of undisbursed life insurance funds, ensuring the surviving families of our nation’s heroes receive timely payments.”
The congresswoman on June 3 was also the lead original cosponsor of the other House-approved bill, the Student Veterans Emergency Relief Act of 2022, H.R. 7939, which was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) to make permanent certain educational assistance benefits under laws administered by the VA Secretary when changes need to be made to education courses due to emergency situations, the text says.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress pushed to pass important legislation to protect veterans’ GI benefits from lapsing,” Rep. Mace said. “This legislation will extend those important safeguards to ensure their access to education benefits doesn’t happen again in future emergencies.”