In mid-May, top congressional supporters of military veterans introduced the Sen. Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (HR 8371).
This bill has bipartisan support from House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL), Senate counterpart Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT), and ranking member Jerry Moran (R-KS). HR 8371 aims to consolidate various bipartisan proposals to make it easier to deliver services through Veterans Affairs (VA).
One key provision relevant to the trucking industry would enable veterans to use their GI Bill benefits for commercial driver’s license (CDL) training at a new facility if its primary location is VA-approved. Currently, veterans must wait two years to use these benefits at a new training facility.
David Pike, NFI’s recruiting director, notes that this bill would provide immediate benefits to newly separated veterans.
Pike conducted a survey among veterans working at NFI and discovered their main concern is transitioning from military to civilian life.
“A servicemember separating from active duty faces many initial hurdles with re-entry to civilian life, like securing meaningful and financially suitable employment. This bill should help that transition,” Pike said.
Overall, the bill covers various aspects of veteran life, including healthcare (both current and nursing home care), economic issues like job training, home loans, homelessness, and recordkeeping.
Both houses of Congress are working to quickly pass the bill and get it to the president this week. The NMFTA supports its passage.
Source: The Trucker
