June 15, 2022

Quarterly Veterans Update

Dear Neighbor,

Over the last few months, I have continued to work with members of both parties to deliver more results for veterans like yourself. I introduced new bipartisan legislation to improve the Transition Assistance Program, expand the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to individuals who work at Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), and we are closer than ever to sending toxic exposure legislation to the president’s desk.

Please keep reading for some more updates on that work and the progress we’re making to deliver the benefits you deserve, as well as other details on upcoming meetings and events for veterans.

As always, I want to hear from you about your priorities and the challenges you face. I encourage you to reach out to my office to share your thoughts and concerns. You can find other contact information by visiting mikelevin.house.gov.

Hiring
Wounded Warrior Fellowship Program – Oceanside/Dana Point District Office
Rep. Levin is hiring a veteran to join his District Office team through the Wounded Warrior Fellowship Program. The fellowship is a 2-year program that allows for newly transitioned servicemembers to network with their military and veteran community and work with federal agencies. Please send this job posting to your organization members and any veterans you think may be interested in applying. We plan to interview applicants this month and want to begin the hiring process as soon as possible. Eligibility criteria, salary, and detailed responsibilities can be reviewed here. Any further questions you may have can be directed to gabriela.ochoa@mail.house.gov. To apply for the position please submit a resume, cover letter, and 3 professional references to CA49.applications@mail.house.gov.

Recent Events

On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, Rep. Levin hosted VA Secretary Denis McDonough to tour the newly renamed Jennifer Moreno VA Medical Center, the Oceanside VA Clinic, the San Marcos Veteran Center and Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Rep. Levin and Secretary McDonough met with veterans and veteran representatives to receive feedback and discuss local challenges such as veteran homelessness, employment, and benefits.

Legislative Update
Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act
On June 3, 2022, Rep. Levin and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced the bipartisan Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act to extend GI Bill flexibilities that Congress established during COVID-19 to all national emergencies declared by the president.

When COVID-19 began, many veterans stood to lose a significant portion of their education benefits when their classes were interrupted. For example, existing law required VA to make significant cuts to the housing benefits afforded to student veterans who were taking classes remotely, even though many transitioned to online coursework during the pandemic. Others were unable to continue classes and faced the expiration of their benefits. Meanwhile, student veterans working on campus through VA’s work study program were poised to lose income as physical locations closed. In response, Congress took action to provide flexibility and prevent cuts to veterans’ benefits. The Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act would allow the VA to extend those flexibilities to any future emergency declared by the president.

Transition Improvement by Estimating Risk (TIER) Act
On May 27, 2022, Rep. Levin introduced the TIER Act, a bipartisan bill along with Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX) to improve the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for servicemembers separating from the military and preparing for civilian careers. The bill clarifies and adds new screening criteria, such as childcare needs and spousal employment status, to improve the program’s effectiveness.

The bill makes changes to address confusion around servicemembers’ medical discharge or involuntary discharge status, which will help assure that servicemembers are placed in the correct TAP pathway. It also adds new screening criteria to better determine a servicemember’s appropriate pathway and risk level. Those new criteria include childcare needs, the employment status of other household members, the servicemember’s duty station location, the effects of operating tempo and personnel tempo on the servicemember, and whether the servicemember is an Indian or urban Indian, as defined under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

Veteran Service Equity Act
On April 7, 2022, Rep. Levin, and Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) introduced the Veteran Service Equity Act to expand the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to include individuals who work at Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs). Currently, most VSO workers do not qualify for public loan forgiveness because the PSLF program is generally limited to 501(c)(3) organizations, disqualifying VSOs like The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) that file under other tax codes. The Veteran Service Equity Act closes that loophole to ensure that all employees at VA-recognized VSOs qualify for the PSLF program.

VENTURE Act
On April 1, 2022, Rep. Levin introduced the Veteran Eligibility for Necessities To Rewarding Entrepreneurship (VENTURE) Act, which fosters veteran entrepreneurship by expanding veterans’ eligibility for the self-employment track of Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E). At this time, the track is strictly for veterans with the most severe service-connected disabilities who require homebound training or self-employment. The self-employment assistance under the VR&E program assists with license fees, essential equipment, supplies, and minimum stocks of materials necessary for a veteran to begin self-employment. The House Veterans Affairs Committee passed the bill on April 6, 2022.

Honoring our PACT Act
On March 3, 2022, this bipartisan bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation will finally treat toxic exposure as a cost of war by addressing the full range of issues impacting toxic-exposed veterans, including access to earned benefits and health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

On May 18, 2022, leaders of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee announced a bipartisan agreement on the PACT Act, which will come to the Senate floor for a vote soon. The newly agreed upon bill will include the following priorities and more:

Expand VA health care eligibility to Post-9/11 combat veterans, which includes more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans;
Create a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure;
Add 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA’s list of service presumptions, including hypertension;
Expand presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure;
Strengthen federal research on toxic exposure;
Improve VA’s resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans; and
Set VA and veterans up for success by investing in VA claims processing, VA’s workforce, and VA health care facilities.

Upcoming Events
Women Veterans Day
Sunday, June 12, 2022, was Women Veterans’ Day, in recognition of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948. If you would like to nominate a woman veteran to be recognized with a Congressional Certificate, please send her name, branch of service, years served, and rank achieved to Gabby Ochoa at gabriela.ochoa@mail.house.gov.

House Veterans Affairs Committee Bipartisan Field Hearing
On Monday, July 11, 2022, at 10:00 am PT, Rep. Levin will be hosting a bipartisan hearing of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, which he chairs. He will be joined by Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL) at the Veterans Association of North County (VANC) building at 1617 Mission Avenue in Oceanside. The hearing is entitled “Ending Veteran Hunger: Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on Food Insecurity” and will include testimony from several government agencies and local community organizations. If you would like to attend the hearing in person, please RSVP by emailing Gabby Ochoa at gabriela.ochoa@mail.house.gov.

District Veteran Service Organization (VSO) Meeting
On Tuesday, August 9, 2022, at 10:30am – 11:15am PDT, this meeting will be an opportunity for all district VSOs to express their legislative and local priorities as well as any potential concerns to Rep. Levin. Please RSVP by emailing Gabby Ochoa at gabriela.ochoa@mail.house.gov.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Updates
VA Launches $20 Million Innovation Challenge to Reduce Veteran Suicide
As part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ 10-year strategy to reduce veteran suicide, VA invites innovators across the country to participate in “Mission Daybreak,” a $20 million challenge designed to help VA develop new suicide prevention strategies for veterans. Proposed solutions for Mission Daybreak should seek to address one or more of the designated challenge focus areas outlined in the Mission Daybreak webpage here. Submissions are being accepted through July 8, 2022.

VA Establishes Presumptive for Rare Respiratory Cancers for Certain Veterans
As part of President Biden’s Unity Agenda commitment to support the nation’s veterans, VA is adding nine rare respiratory cancers to the list of presumed service-connected disabilities due to military environmental exposures to fine particulate matter.

The following list of rare respiratory cancers have been added to VA’s regulations through an Interim Final Rule published in the Federal Register on April 26, 2022:

Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea.
Adenocarcinoma of the trachea.
Salivary gland-type tumors of the trachea.
Adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung.
Large cell carcinoma of the lung.
Salivary gland-type tumors of the lung.
Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung.
Typical and atypical carcinoid of the lung.

VA will begin processing disability compensation claims for veterans who served any amount of time in the Southwest Asia theater of operations beginning Aug. 2, 1990, to the present, or Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Syria, or Djibouti beginning Sept. 19, 2001, to the present. Any veteran who has or had one of the listed cancers at any time during or after separation from military service may be eligible for disability compensation benefits. VA will contact impacted veterans and survivors to inform them about their eligibility and will provide information on how to apply. Veterans, survivors, or dependents who had claims previously denied for any of these respiratory cancers are encouraged to file a supplemental claim for benefits. If you are a veteran, survivor or dependent applying for the first time, file a new claim here.

COVID-19
The Veterans Affairs Health Administration launched three operational levels called VHA COVID-19 Health Protection Levels to provide a consistent, nationwide approach at its health care facilities. VA applied the three-tier safety protocol standard effective May 23, 2022, enhancing safety for veterans, visitors, and employees during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The levels align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Community Transmission Levels designed for use by health care facilities. Each VHA COVID-19 Health Protection Level includes guidance on personal protective equipment, screening, testing, visitation, waiting rooms, group care/therapy and staffing. Levels will be monitored weekly at each facility and updated to reflect any changes on Mondays. Use the VA facility locator to find its current level and learn more about VHA Health Protection Levels.

Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP)
VRRAP, which Rep. Levin helped establish, continues to offer certain unemployed veterans with up to 12 months of tuition, fees, and housing to train for high-demand jobs. In September 2021, VA added 25 new occupations to the list of eligible occupations. This program expires December 11, 2022, so eligible veterans are encouraged to apply – and begin classes if approved – as soon as possible. Veterans may visit the VA’s education and training web page to determine eligibility and apply.

Best,

Rep. Mike Levin

Next Article Previous Article