Gosar Applauds Passage of Sweeping Veterans Benefits and Healthcare Legislation on Veterans Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), issued the following statement lauding House passage of H.R. 9237, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, sweeping legislation that strengthens healthcare access, expands benefits, and delivers meaningful support to veterans, their families, and Gold Star families across the country:

"America's veterans answered the call to serve our country. We have a responsibility to make sure our government keeps its promises to them.

I strongly support this legislation because it delivers meaningful improvements to the healthcare, benefits, and support our veterans and their families deserve.

On Veterans Day, there is no better way for Congress to honor our veterans than by taking action to improve their lives. This is a win for veterans across America, and especially for the thousands of veterans and military families right here in Arizona's Ninth Congressional District.

Veterans should not have to fight through government bureaucracy to get the healthcare and benefits they have earned. We need a VA that puts veterans first, gives them choices, responds to their needs, and delivers results. This legislation moves us in that direction.

Today, we honor those who wore the uniform and defended our freedoms. We owe them more than words and ceremonies. We owe them action, accountability, and a government that never forgets its obligations to those who served.

Happy Veterans Day, and God bless our veterans and their families," stated Congressman Paul Gosar.

Background:

H.R. 9237, which passed the House by voice vote today, brings together nearly 60 bipartisan veterans-related measures to improve the lives of those who have served our nation. Provisions in the legislation address healthcare access, disability benefits, mental health services, caregiver support, education, and the needs of surviving family members.

Key provisions of H.R. 9237 include:

• Major Richard Star Act (concurrent VA and Department of War benefits receipt issue for medically retired disabled veterans)
• Veterans' ACCESS Act (rural and urban healthcare access when VA wait times are too high)
• Briley-Edmundson Benefits Expansion Act (benefits increase for severely disabled veterans and Gold Star families)
• Fox Grants Reauthorization (community-based mental health and suicide prevention)
• BEACON Act (expand non-pharmacological treatments for veterans with TBI and mental health)
• VA facility construction reform (to cut out red tape and ensure VA is delivering for veteran constituents in each member's congressional district)
• Improvements to veteran caregiver support, mental health care, VA workforce recruitment and retention, appointment scheduling, rural healthcare access, service dog access, transition assistance to civilian life for service members, and Gold Star survivor benefits.