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Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018
Legislative Progress
Momentum (last 30 days)
0
score
0 actions · 0 new cosponsors · 0 votes
Speed vs cohort
97pct
377d open
vs 3,805 other S bills in the 115th — cohort avg 41d
Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 This bill updates various Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and programs in areas including education, transition assistance, and civil relief. The bill makes a number of changes to educational benefits. Among the changes, the bill adjusts assistance limits for veterans participating in a VA vocational rehabilitation program who are called to active reserve duty in certain instances. The bill also requires the VA to electronically provide documentation verifying the amount of their housing stipend to recipients of Post-9/11 educational assistance and requires the VA to disapprove courses of education at educational institutions that have certain payment policies in place. Additionally, the bill requires the VA to make prompt payments of educational assistance funding and to provide information on whether a postsecondary education institution requires a covered individual to take certain actions to stay enrolled pending a receipt of educational assistance. Finally, the bill updates the basic housing allowance amounts for veterans enrolled in high technology programs pursuant to the VA pilot program. The bill makes changes regarding memorial affairs for veterans, including requiring the VA to furnish, when requested, headstones or markers for the unmarked graves of any eligible individuals (including those whose remains are unavailable) buried in a veterans cemetery owned by a tribal organization or on land owned by or held in trust for a tribal organization. The bill amends several sections of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, including to allow (1) a surviving spouse of a deceased servicemember who died while in military service to terminate a lease without penalty within one year of the servicemember's death; (2) the spouse of a servicemember to elect to use the same residence as the servicemember for the purposes of taxation and voting; and (3) a servicemember to terminate a commercial mobile, telephone exchange, internet access or programming service contract after the service member receives military orders to a location that does not support such contracts. With regard to transition assistance, the bill requires the VA to identify and publish a list of community-based programs operated by nonprofit entities that provide transition assistance to members of the Armed Forces who are retired, separated, or discharged. The bill addresses a variety of VA administrative issues. Specifically, the bill directs the VA to prohibit employees who have knowingly misused VA purchase cards from serving as purchase card holders or approving officials. The bill also requires the VA to make changes to its information technology systems so that changes to information about a person's dependent is reviewable and revisable by that person. Under the bill, the VA must submit certain documents to Congress related to the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program. In addition, the VA must develop a standard letter to be provided to individuals who owe debts to the VA and to develop a method by which individuals can elect to receive such notice electronically. The bill also makes several other changes to a variety of VA programs, projects, and benefits. Specifically, the bill authorizes specific major medical facility projects and requires VA medical facility directors to submit plans to improve facilities. The bill expands eligibility for homeless veterans reintegration programs to other veterans, including include veterans who are transitioning from being incarcerated and others. The VA must award contracts to multiple regional prime vendors instead of a single nationwide prime vendor for the Medical Surgical Prime Vendor program; and Finally, the bill requires the VA to report on the feasibility and advisability of expanding access to dental care for eligible veterans.
These links require the bill number to appear in the filing's source-reported specific issue text. Client expenses and lobbying-firm income are separate disclosure fields.
Filing registrants (4)
2018 · first_quarter · Veterans
Improvements in veterans and survivor benefits. H.R. 92 CHAMPVA Children's Protection Act; H.R. 411 Veteran Suicide Prevention; H.R. 809 Fighting for Orange-Stricken Territories in the Eastern Region; H.R. 814 allow estate of deceased veteran to receive certain benefits; H.R. 846 widows tax repeal; H.R. 888 to improve dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain totally disabled veterans; H.R. 1112 authorize the transfer of unused Post-9/11 Educational Assistance benefits to additional dependents upon the death of the originally designated dependent; H.R. 1212 increase in funeral benefits; H.R. 1328 automatic COLA for veterans benefits; H.R. 1329 COLA for veterans benefits; H.R. 1390 authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay costs relating to the transportation of certain deceased veterans to veterans' cemeteries owned by a State or tribal organization; H.R. 1495 change the effective date of certain reductions and discontinuances of dependency and indemnity compensation under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; H.R. 1625 consolidated appropriations; H.R. 1956 increase the amounts of educational assistance payable under Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program; H.R. 2345 Federal Communications Commission to study the feasibility of designating a simple, easy-to-remember dialing code to be used for a suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline; H.R. 2346 to protect the well-being of soldiers and their families, and for other purposes. Has implications for survivors up to 2 years after death of service member; H.R. 2421 to amend the definition of the word "spouse"; H.R. 3370 extend Yellow Ribbon program to Sgt. Fry recipients; H.R. 4106 DIC increase; H.R. 4242 VA community care; H.R. 4508 PROSPER Act; S. 242 allow congressional staff access to VA applications; S. 319 establish a VA center of excellence for burn pits; S. 339 widows tax repeal; S. 342 Gold Star Family stamp; S. 410 extend Yellow Ribbon program to Sgt. Fry recipients; S. 423 CHAMPVA Childrens Protection Act; S. 624 to let servicemembers terminate TV and phone contracts while deployed; S. 1072 to help homeless veterans; S. 1330 to authorize a dependent to transfer Post-9/11 Educational Assistance in cases in which the dependent received entitlement from an individual who subsequently died; S. 1598 to improve GI Bill benefits; S. 1990 DIC increase; S. 2038 presumption of exposure to certain veterans; S. 2097 improve the administration of state homes providing care to veterans; S. 2105 to modify the presumption of service connection; S. 2107 to report major adverse personnel actions involving health care employees at the VA; S. 2131 VA to furnish medically necessary transportation for newborn children; S. 2184 VA community care; S. 2193 VA community care; S. 2247 clarifying rules for VA headstones; S. 2247 VA burial improvements; S. 2248 improving GI Bill benefits; S. 2294 Protecting Veterans from Predatory Lending; S. 2304 improve the processing of veterans benefits; S. 2341 VA accountability; P.L. 114-158 changing burial rules.
Became Public Law No: 115-407.
Became Public Law No: 115-407.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2248 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7896)
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2248 by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7896)
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Bills with similar content found using semantic analysis.
Sources: Congress.gov
Client expense: $504,998 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Government Accountability Office (GAO), Government Printing Office (GPO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Natl Guard, Natl Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of the Secretary of Defense, President of the U.S., SENATE, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Veterans Employment & Training Service
2018 · fourth_quarter · Health Issues
Issues related to antimicrobial resistance H.R.5418, Veterans Affairs Medical-Surgical Purchasing Stabilization Act S.2248, Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 Issues related to hazardous drug safety Issues related to medical technology regulation S.2852, Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018 H.R.5774, Combatting Opioid Abuse for Care in Hospitals (COACH) Act of 2018 S.2680, The Opioid Response Act of 2018 Issues related to device cybersecurity
Client expense: $430,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
2018 · fourth_quarter · Veterans
Issues related to VA procurement and devices. H.R. 5418, Veterans Affairs Medical-Surgical Purchasing Stabilization Act. S. 2248, Veterans Benefit and Transition Act, provision related to VA MSPV program.
Client expense: $800,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE
2018 · fourth_quarter · Veterans
Education pertaining to the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Surgical Prime Vendor Program reform efforts and Purchase Order delays-- S2248.
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $15,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
2018 · fourth_quarter · Veterans
Education pertaining to the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Surgical Prime Vendor Program reform efforts and Purchase Order delays. S2248.
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $15,000
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
2018 · second_quarter · Veterans
Improvements in veterans and survivor benefits. H.R. 92 CHAMPVA Children's Protection Act; H.R. 411 Veteran Suicide Prevention; H.R. 809 Fighting for Orange-Stricken Territories in the Eastern Region; H.R. 814 allow estate of deceased veteran to receive certain benefits; H.R. 846 widows tax repeal; H.R. 888 to improve dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain totally disabled veterans; H.R. 1112 authorize the transfer of unused Post-9/11 Educational Assistance benefits to additional dependents upon the death of the originally designated dependent; H.R. 1212 increase in funeral benefits; H.R. 1328 automatic COLA for veterans benefits; H.R. 1329 COLA for veterans benefits; H.R. 1390 authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay costs relating to the transportation of certain deceased veterans to veterans' cemeteries owned by a State or tribal organization; H.R. 1495 change the effective date of certain reductions and discontinuances of dependency and indemnity compensation under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; H.R. 1625 consolidated appropriations; H.R. 1956 increase the amounts of educational assistance payable under Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program; H.R. 2345 Federal Communications Commission to study the feasibility of designating a simple, easy-to-remember dialing code to be used for a suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline; H.R. 2346 to protect the well-being of soldiers and their families, and for other purposes. Has implications for survivors up to 2 years after death of service member; H.R. 2421 to amend the definition of the word "spouse"; H.R. 3370 extend Yellow Ribbon program to Sgt. Fry recipients; H.R. 4106 DIC increase; H.R. 4242 VA community care; H.R. 4508 PROSPER Act; S. 242 allow congressional staff access to VA applications; S. 319 establish a VA center of excellence for burn pits; S. 339 widows tax repeal; S. 342 Gold Star Family stamp; S. 410 extend Yellow Ribbon program to Sgt. Fry recipients; S. 423 CHAMPVA Childrens Protection Act; S. 624 to let servicemembers terminate TV and phone contracts while deployed; S. 1072 to help homeless veterans; S. 1330 to authorize a dependent to transfer Post-9/11 Educational Assistance in cases in which the dependent received entitlement from an individual who subsequently died; S. 1598 to improve GI Bill benefits; S. 1990 DIC increase; S. 2038 presumption of exposure to certain veterans; S. 2097 improve the administration of state homes providing care to veterans; S. 2105 to modify the presumption of service connection; S. 2107 to report major adverse personnel actions involving health care employees at the VA; S. 2131 VA to furnish medically necessary transportation for newborn children; S. 2184 VA community care; S. 2193 VA community care; S. 2247 clarifying rules for VA headstones; S. 2247 VA burial improvements; S. 2248 improving GI Bill benefits; S. 2294 Protecting Veterans from Predatory Lending; S. 2304 improve the processing of veterans benefits; S. 2341 VA accountability; P.L. 114-158 changing burial rules.
2018 · first_quarter · Veterans
Improvements in veterans and survivor benefits. H.R. 92 CHAMPVA Children's Protection Act; H.R. 411 Veteran Suicide Prevention; H.R. 809 Fighting for Orange-Stricken Territories in the Eastern Region; H.R. 814 allow estate of deceased veteran to receive certain benefits; H.R. 846 widows tax repeal; H.R. 888 to improve dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain totally disabled veterans; H.R. 1112 authorize the transfer of unused Post-9/11 Educational Assistance benefits to additional dependents upon the death of the originally designated dependent; H.R. 1212 increase in funeral benefits; H.R. 1328 automatic COLA for veterans benefits; H.R. 1329 COLA for veterans benefits; H.R. 1390 authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay costs relating to the transportation of certain deceased veterans to veterans' cemeteries owned by a State or tribal organization; H.R. 1495 change the effective date of certain reductions and discontinuances of dependency and indemnity compensation under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; H.R. 1625 consolidated appropriations; H.R. 1956 increase the amounts of educational assistance payable under Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program; H.R. 2345 Federal Communications Commission to study the feasibility of designating a simple, easy-to-remember dialing code to be used for a suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline; H.R. 2346 to protect the well-being of soldiers and their families, and for other purposes. Has implications for survivors up to 2 years after death of service member; H.R. 2421 to amend the definition of the word "spouse"; H.R. 3370 extend Yellow Ribbon program to Sgt. Fry recipients; H.R. 4106 DIC increase; H.R. 4242 VA community care; H.R. 4508 PROSPER Act; S. 242 allow congressional staff access to VA applications; S. 319 establish a VA center of excellence for burn pits; S. 339 widows tax repeal; S. 342 Gold Star Family stamp; S. 410 extend Yellow Ribbon program to Sgt. Fry recipients; S. 423 CHAMPVA Childrens Protection Act; S. 624 to let servicemembers terminate TV and phone contracts while deployed; S. 1072 to help homeless veterans; S. 1330 to authorize a dependent to transfer Post-9/11 Educational Assistance in cases in which the dependent received entitlement from an individual who subsequently died; S. 1598 to improve GI Bill benefits; S. 1990 DIC increase; S. 2038 presumption of exposure to certain veterans; S. 2097 improve the administration of state homes providing care to veterans; S. 2105 to modify the presumption of service connection; S. 2107 to report major adverse personnel actions involving health care employees at the VA; S. 2131 VA to furnish medically necessary transportation for newborn children; S. 2184 VA community care; S. 2193 VA community care; S. 2247 clarifying rules for VA headstones; S. 2247 VA burial improvements; S. 2248 improving GI Bill benefits; S. 2294 Protecting Veterans from Predatory Lending; S. 2304 improve the processing of veterans benefits; S. 2341 VA accountability; P.L. 114-158 changing burial rules.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9794-9798)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9794-9798)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2248.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9794-9802)
Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Held at the desk.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S1321)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S1321)
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1321)
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S1321)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Introduced in Senate
| December 19, 2017 |
| Enrolled Bill | -- |
Client expense: $491,384 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Government Accountability Office (GAO), Government Printing Office (GPO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Natl Guard, Natl Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of the Secretary of Defense, President of the U.S., SENATE, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Veterans Employment & Training Service
Client expense: $504,998 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Government Accountability Office (GAO), Government Printing Office (GPO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Natl Guard, Natl Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of the Secretary of Defense, President of the U.S., SENATE, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Veterans Employment & Training Service