Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) to establish the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative within the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) became law on Jan. 5 with the president’s signature.
“We owe it to our service members, veterans, and military families to do all we can to protect their rights and legal interests, during and long after their service,” Sen Ernst said. “I was proud to help lead this bipartisan effort to ensure the Department of Justice continues their work to do just that, and I’m grateful to the president for signing this important legislation into law.”
Under the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative Act of 2020, H.R. 8354/S. 5010, the initiative will serve as legal and policy advisor on DOJ’s efforts to enforce criminal and civil laws that impact service members, veterans and their families, and will enforce such laws, according to the congressional record bill summary
Additionally, the initiative will develop policy recommendations for improved enforcement of federal law to support service members, veterans and their families, and provide counsel for the Office of Justice Programs to ensure that funding decisions take into account service members, veterans and their families, according to the summary.
Sen. Ernst and U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) in November 2020 introduced S. 4915 in their chamber as a related bill to H.R. 8354, introduced in September 2020 by U.S. Reps. Van Taylor (R-TX) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX).
The U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 8, 2020 voted 400-1 to approve H.R. 8354, which the U.S. Senate then approved by unanimous consent on Dec. 15, 2020. President Donald Trump last week signed the bill into law.
“Bipartisan, bicameral partnership with Senator Ernst and Representatives Escobar and Taylor helped make this bill law, and demonstrates the success that can be had when we work together to support communities across our country,” said Sen. Hirono.
This bill had garnered support from the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans Education Success, and Student Veterans of America.