Barrett’s Three Bills for Veterans Passed by Committee, Head to Full House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Veterans Affairs Committee approved three bills led by Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) to deliver for veterans in mid-Michigan. The FRAUD Act (H.R. 3834), the Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act (H.R. 3481), and the Veterans Hearing Health Expansion Act (H.R. 3088) are now ready to be considered by the full House of Representatives.

"When someone signs up and puts on the uniform to defend our freedom, they do so with an understanding that the United States will uphold its promise to care for and support them when they return home," said Barrett. "These bills are about bringing the Department of Veterans Affairs into the 21st century so we can meet that obligation with effective and efficient delivery of services. I'm proud to see these three bills advance through committee, and I look forward to bringing this effort to drive innovation and technological reforms to the House floor for our nation's heroes."

The Forcing Real Accountability for Unlawful Distributions Actwould save taxpayer dollars from being wasted on fraudulent, inaccurate, or otherwise misleading claims submitted to the VA by third-party administrators on behalf of community care providers. Specifically, this bill would direct the VA to acquire a system designed to monitor third-party payments and ensure the department pays only accurate and complete claims, protecting the VA and veterans' reputations in the process.

The Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act would amend current law to authorize the VA to send G.I. Bill and Solid Start updates through digital messaging instead of only physical mail. Additionally, the bill would save the VA money by reducing paper use and giving veterans the option to receive all updates on their computer or device.

The Veterans Hearing Health Expansion Act, which passed as an amendment to a separate measure to expand veterans' access to health care in their communities, would pay for veterans' visits to licensed hearing aid specialists, even if the specialists do not work at VA facilities. The VA Community Care Program already covers other types of specialists, and the bill would enable veterans to get their hearing aids fit, adjusted, or repaired locally, without traveling to a VA hospital or clinic.

Click hereto read the Forcing Real Accountability for Unlawful Distributions Act.

Click hereto read the Bipartisan Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act.

Click hereto read the Veterans Hearing Health Expansion Act.

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