Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) has introduced the bipartisan Veterans' Bill of Rights Act to ensure our nation's heroes receive the benefits and services they deserve.
Specifically, the bill codifies that veterans have the right to fair treatment, privacy, timely health care (including community care), mental health and family support, housing and job assistance, education benefits, and transparency in claims and appeals, which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) must provide to every veteran in print and online in plain English.
Additionally, this legislation establishes a complaint hotline and website that veterans can access, and the VA must respond to all inquiries within 30 days.
Finally, compliance records, corrective actions, and complaint response metrics must be reported annually to Congress.
"Our veterans fought for us—now we fight for them," said Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick in a statement. "We fight and we win when we honor our veterans not just with words, but with action—ensuring every veteran has the care, dignity, and opportunity they've earned. That's what the bipartisan Veterans' Bill of Rights Act does."
Representative Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), the bill's cosponsor, echoed her remarks, adding that "our veterans fought for this country, and the least we can do is make sure the government fights for them."
"Too many veterans still struggle to get the care and benefits they have earned because the system is so confusing," Rep. Van Drew continued. "This bill makes sure that every veteran knows exactly what they are entitled to, and that the VA is required to deliver it. We are taking action to make sure our veterans receive the care they deserve."
In June, Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick brought attention to the apparent slowness of the VA's implementation of its new electronic health record (EHR) program, warning that "half of the issues that we keep seeing in implementation come down to the VA actually working with whatever vendor it is, and making sure that they've actually put together a procedure in place and some kind of standardization."
