108th Congress delays key veterans bills.

In an atmosphere of intense partisanship and political grandstanding on largely symbolic issues, the 108th Congress put off critical legislation such as funding for the VA for the current fiscal year. While lawmakers did complete work on a cost-of-living increase for veterans' disability compensation and survivors' benefits, a number of bills that were passed by the House Veterans' Affairs Committee were delayed or flocked completely.

"The second session of the 108th Congress was among the bleakest in recent memory with regard to veterans' benefits," said National Legislative Director Joseph A. Violante. "The bipartisan efforts of Chairman Christopher Smith (R-N.J.) and the Committee members to expand and improve veterans' benefits were in vain because not a single bill reported by the Committee passed both the House and the Senate during the regular session. The handful of veterans bills that were approved by both chambers were passed in a 'lame duck session after the fall elections.

Among those bills belatedly sent to President Bush is the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act, S. 2486, a comprehensive measure that contains a number of provisions benefiting disabled veterans, One important provision expands the list of presumptive Iv service-connected diseases associated with radiation exposure to include cancers of the bone, brain, colon, lung, and ovary. Another authorizes specially adapted housing assistance to veterans with service-connected loss or loss of use of both upper extremities such as to preclude use of the arms at and below the elbows.

The measure increases benefits for individuals pursuing apprenticeship or on-the-job training via the Montgomery GI Bill, Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance, or Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance. It also extends eligibility for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance from 10 years to 20 years for the spouse of a servicemember who died on active duty.

S. 2486 also provides an additional $250 in dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses with dependent children. The additional monthly benefit would be paid during the two-year period beginning on the date on which entitlement to DIC commenced.

Another of the bills approved by Congress simplifies pay rules for VA doctors and dentists, authorizes an alternative work schedule for nurses, and provides special pay for VA nurse executives. The alternative work schedules called for in the Department of Veterans Affairs health Care Personnel Enhancement Act, S. 2484, were designed to help attract and retain more nurses at VA hospitals, some of which are chronically understaffed.

Lawmakers also finalized legislation that authorizes increased funding for homeless veteran grants from $75 million to $99 million in fiscal year 2005, The Veterans Health Programs Improvement Act, H.R. 3936, does not actually appropriate the authorized fiends, however.

H.R. 3936 also contains provisions to improve management and administration at health tare facilities. These include directing the VA to make payments to states to assist them in hiring and retaining nurses in state veterans' homes.

Another provision clarifies that per diem pavements made by the VA for the care of veterans in state veterans homes shall not be used to offset or reduce other payments made to assist veterans. The measure also eliminates patients' co-payments for hospice care furnished by the VA.

"It is unfortunate that a number of bills that would have benefited disabled veterans and their families were left unfinished when the 108th Congress adjourned. We will be starting from scratch on many of the DAV's policy priorities as legislation to address these important issues will have to be reintroduced in the 109th Congress." Violante said. (Some of the DAV's legislative priorities are listed on page 8.)