Veteran Affairs

Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) has introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation promoting a "food as medicine" approach to support veterans with diet-related chronic illnesses. Specifically, Rep. Buchanan's Produce Prescription for Veterans Act authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prescribe special diets and to issue debit cards or vouchers that veterans can use to purchase fresh […]

In an exclusive interview with The Floridian, Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) discussed housing reforms for active-duty military and veterans, expressing confidence in the Secretaries of War and Veterans Affairs under President Donald Trump to carry out this agenda. Reminding that both Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins are military […]

Representatives Greg Steube (R-FL) and Susie Lee (D-NV) are introducing bipartisan legislation encouraging businesses to hire student veterans. The mechanism through which the Hire Student Veterans Act seeks to achieve this is through the expansion of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, a tax credit offered to employers that encourages them to hire groups that have difficulty […]

Representative Cory Mills (R-FL) is cosponsoring Representative Jen Kiggans' (R-VA) bill improving disabled veterans' Thrift Savings Plans (TSPs). A Thrift Savings Plan is effectively a retirement fund for veterans. However, once members leave the service and/or are rated as 100% disabled, they are not allowed to continue contributing funds to the system, even if it […]

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, […]

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) is introducing a bill improving the transparency of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) prescription practices. Specifically, Rep. Bilirakis's Written Informed Consent Act requires the VA to inform veterans through writing of the potential side effects of drugs such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, stimulants, anxiolytics, and narcotics prescribed through their system. Additionally, a […]

Representative Jimmy Patronis (R-FL) praised the passage of the 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, saying, "I'm grateful for President Trump's and Speaker Mike Johnson's leadership in the passage of this pro-military, pro-veteran legislation." As Rep. Patronis's press release described, $452 billion is directed to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), […]

Representatives Sheila Cherfilus McCormick (D-FL) and Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) are introducing a bipartisan bill improving the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program. Specifically, the Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act strengthens oversight of the program and requires the VA to report on the employment numbers and annual wages of […]

Representative Brian Mast (R-FL) has introduced three pieces of legislation aimed at helping veterans and active-duty service members transition back into civilian life while also honoring the fallen. The first is known as the Final Honors Act, which allows families of service members who died in the line of duty to request the deceased's remains […]

TALLAHASSEE—With Democrats seemingly way out in left field, Sen Jay Collins turned his attention to more pressing matters, particularly when it comes to fixing Veterans Affairs (VA) Sen. Collins is a former Army Green Beret with tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Showing his passion for the issue, Collins called the department's budget "big and bloated." […]

Representative Brian Mast (R-FL) is introducing legislation to improve veterans' access to services from their congressional representatives. Aptly named the Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act of 2025, Rep. Mast's bill enables Representatives and Senators to use Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities for office hours and in-person meetings with veteran constituents. Rep. Mast […]

Representative Scott Franklin (R-FL) is reintroducing legislation protecting veterans' access to the Veteran Community Care Program (VCCP) over services provided directly by the Department of Veterans Affairs. More specifically, Rep. Franklin's Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act amends Title 38 of the United States Code to consider "continuity of care" in determining "best medical interest" […]

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) is cosponsoring legislation that would improve healthcare access for veterans by easing various restrictions and improving the availability of mental health resources. The bill, named the "Veterans' Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers" (ACCESS) Act, has several provisions, including establishing a baseline for community care standards. Additionally, the list of […]

Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) has introduced a whopping eight bills to start the 119th Congress, covering everything from tax policy to veterans' healthcare to border security to animal protection, and the session has only begun. One bill Rep. Buchanan is reintroducing is the Tax Cuts and Jobs (TCJA) Permanency Act. As the name suggests, this […]

Representative Gus Bilirakis's (R-FL) bipartisan Major Richard Star Act has garnered strong bipartisan support in the House and Senate but has gotten nowhere since it was introduced in August 2022. This led him and Representative Raul Ruiz (D-CA) to demand action in a recent letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to bring the bill […]

A bill introduced by Representative Scott Franklin (R-FL) to strengthen Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) provisions has recently passed the House as an amendment to the larger "Dole Act," a legislative victory he said "ensures Reservists and Guardsmen who return from active duty are not disadvantaged or discriminated against in their civilian […]

Veteran homelessness rates have reached a historic low under the Biden-Harris Administration, a milestone that Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (R-FL) praised in a recent statement, saying, "This momentous achievement reflects the commitment of the Biden-Harris administration and congressional Democrats to support the men and women who served our country." The Military Times confirmed the news, noting […]

Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Morgan McGarvey (D-KY) have introduced a bill improving the recruitment and retention of staff for the Board of Veterans' Appeals. This would, in turn, increase the Board's timeliness and ability to process claims. The Board, as described by their website, is charged with assisting veterans in making appeals claims and […]