Today, President Biden held a press conference during which he signed into law four pieces of legislation affecting active-duty and retired military service members, as well as the children and surviving spouses of veterans.
The first bill President Biden signed into law is S. 1031.
This legislation requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to assess whether disparities related to race and ethnicity exist in the administration of veterans’ benefits and disability ratings. The goal of this bill is to improve understanding of these disparities and ensure better data collection and recordkeeping.
Note: This legislation does not appear to have an official name. For that reason, it is referred to here as S. 1031.
Source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1031
Second Bill: Higher Veteran Health Heroes Act (HVHHA)
The second bill President Biden signed into law is the Higher Veteran Health Heroes Act (HVHHA).
As explained by President Biden, this legislation directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a program to recruit service members with healthcare backgrounds who have less than one year remaining before separating from the military. The program will help place these individuals in federal healthcare positions, including roles at Veterans Affairs hospitals.
Third Bill: Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act (CJMTFSA)
The third bill signed into law is the Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act (CJMTFSA).
This legislation ensures that surviving spouses and children of veterans who use the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA) are eligible for in-state tuition rates, regardless of which public institution they attend within a state.
Fourth Bill: Protecting Moms Who Served Act (PMWSA)
The fourth bill President Biden signed into law is the Protecting Moms Who Served Act (PMWSA).
As explained by the president, this legislation commissions a comprehensive study on maternal health challenges facing women veterans and invests in maternal care coordination programs within the Department of Veterans Affairs.