Dear Friend,

     As we observe Veterans Day, it is important that we find new ways to serve veterans who deserve the utmost respect and admiration for their courage, dedication, and sacrifice. Despite being nationally recognized for their service, veterans often face significant challenges and barriers when seeking comprehensive health care services.

     Over 50,000 veterans live and work in Georgia’s 13th Congressional District and it is critical that they receive high-quality health care, disability services, housing, and accommodations during and after their service. As your Congressman, I have made it my duty to ensure that the VA continues to improve its engagement with our veterans by reducing wait times and increasing access to vital services.

     This year, I was proud to be the lead sponsor of H.R. 1988, the Protecting Affordable Mortgages for Veterans Act of 2019, which updates VA home loan refinancing requirements to guard against the predatory practice of loan churning. The Protecting Affordable Mortgages for Veterans Act passed both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and was signed into law on July 25, 2019.

     In August 2019, we held our district’s 15th Annual Health Fair in Jonesboro, Georgia with nearly 100 health care providers, who provided free preventative health screenings and enrollment services for Medicaid, Medicare, and VA health care coverage to veterans in our community. This year, I have  supported several bills to strengthen health care benefits and retirement plans for our veterans, and improve quality of living for military families and caregivers.

     To support military families, I voted for the passage of H.R. 2500, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, which included provisions to repeal the SBP-DIC offset (also known as the widow’s tax) and protect Survivors Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity for surviving military spouses, provide child care for veterans receiving mental health treatment, and create a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) study on infertility among women veterans and servicemembers. This summer, I partnered with Congresswoman Maxine Waters to introduce H.R. 4182, the Women Veterans Support Act – new legislation that would increase access to mental health care and other support services for women veterans.

     During the 116th Congress, I have also supported H.R. 303, the Retired Pay Restoration Act, H.R. 333, the Disabled Veterans Tax Termination, H.R. 553, the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act, H.R. 96, the Dental Care for Veterans Act, and H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, which was signed into law in June 2019. All of five of these bills expand eligibility for essential health care services, disability benefits, and compensation for veterans and military families who have been denied these benefits for too long.

     In addition to advocating for increased funding for VA medical and prosthetic research and veterans suicide prevention programming, I have voted in support of legislation to increased funding for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including $3 billion to reduce the VA disability claims backlog, $618.7 million for opioid abuse treatment and suicide prevention, $270 million for rural health care services, and over $140 million for DoD medical research on prostate cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

     Our nation’s Gold Star Families rarely receive the recognition they deserve for their sacrifice. Last week, I joined Congressman Hank Johnson, Jr. to introduce a new House Resolution designating November 9th, 2019 as Gold Star Fathers Day as a national observance day. As we enter the holiday season, I will continue to support all of our veterans and military families in Georgia’s 13th District and across the country.

     For more information about resources available to veterans, contact my office at 770-210-5073 or visit www.davidscott.house.gov. 

 

Sincerely,

David Scott
Member of Congress