Veteran Newsletter
Dear Neighbor,
As we approach the end of 2021, I want to share an update on my work for veterans and their families this year. As the representative for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and thousands of veterans in the region, one of my top priorities is helping veterans and their families get through this pandemic and access the benefits they have earned.
I am proud to have introduced 14 bills this year as Vice Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee that support our nation’s veterans. Congress still has much more work to do in strengthening veterans’ access to the benefits they have earned. Below are the latest updates on my work in Congress to serve the veteran community and other developments that affect you.
As always, I want to hear from you about your priorities and the challenges you face. I encourage you to contact my office to share your thoughts and concerns. You can find other contact information by visiting mikelevin.house.gov.
Best,
Rep. Mike Levin
Legislative Update
Responsible Education Mitigating Options and Technical Extensions (REMOTE) Act
On December 8, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Rep. Levin’s REMOTE Act, which he introduced with Rep. David Trone (D-MD) and Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA). The bill will protect education benefits for veterans amid the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many veterans stood to lose a significant portion of their education benefits when their classes were interrupted. For example, the law requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to make significant cuts to the housing benefits afforded to student veterans who are taking classes remotely, even though many student veterans transitioned to online coursework during the pandemic. Others were unable to continue classes at all and faced the expiration of their benefits. Meanwhile, student veterans working on campus through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 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 REMOTE Act will preserve these modifications, which are otherwise scheduled to expire on December 21, through June 2022.
More Opportunities for Veterans Education (MOVE) Act
On December 1, 2021, Rep. Levin introduced this bipartisan legislation to extend the amount of time certain veterans can utilize their GI Bill education benefits. Earlier this year, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) restored GI Bill entitlements for veterans who previously used Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits. However, the VA did not extend the expiration date for these benefits, meaning some veterans received more months of GI Bill entitlements than they had time to use before the expiration date. Rep. Levin’s MOVE Act would provide eligible veterans with sufficient time to use their restored GI Bill benefits by extending the benefits’ expiration dates.
Build Back Better Act
On November 19, 2021, Rep. Levin voted for the Build Back Better Act, which includes vital investments to update VA’s aging infrastructure, its workforce, and the support structures that serve our veterans. Specifically, it provides:
- $2.3 billion for VA’s brick-and-mortar infrastructure to update aging facilities.
- $1.8 billion to address a backlog of medical facility leases that have been awaiting congressional authorization.
- $455 million to expand VA’s authority to lease vacant or under-utilized buildings to organizations that provide services to veterans.
- $268 million to increase the number of health professions residency positions at VA medical facilities by up to 500 positions over 7 years.
- $150 million to address the backlog of unscanned veteran records.
- $5 million for VA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) to carry out enhanced oversight of these investments.
San Diego VA Medical Center Renaming
This meeting on February 22, 2022, at 9:45am – 10:30am PST will be an opportunity for all district VSOs to share their legislative and local priorities, as well as any potential concerns. Please RSVP by emailing Gabby Ochoa at gabriela.ochoa@mail.house.gov.
- Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) is holding holiday events through January 1, 2022 for all active-duty members, veterans, and their families.
- Support The Enlisted Project’s “Sharing the Joy” is an Adopt-a-Family Program which provides gifts to qualifying active-duty military or recently honorably discharged veterans within the last 18 months with pay-grades E-1 to E-6 that are experiencing a financial need.
- USO San Diego | Camp Pendleton, will be hosting events all December long including, Cookie Decorating, Holiday Meal for Deployed Families, Rise and Shine Christmas Dinner, and more. Please visit the USO event’s page for more information.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Updates
New VA San Diego Website
To better meet the needs of veterans, families and caregivers, VA has built all-new websites for its health care facilities. The VA used patient feedback to develop a website that helps veterans, families and caregivers prepare for a visit, get care, and connect with their VA health care team. Visit VA San Diego’s new website here.
UC San Diego Blue Line Update
Effective Sunday, November 21, 2021, the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Blue Line Trolley is open, including a convenient stop near the San Diego VAMC. The trolley is a great way for many patients to commute to and from the Medical Center. For additional information regarding trolley stops and schedules, visit the UCSD Blue Line Trolley Extension website.
VA San Diego Seasonal Flu Shots 2021
Free seasonal flu shots are available for veterans enrolled in VA health care from October 1 - December 30, 2021 at the San Diego VAMC and community clinics. For more information, please see VA’s 2021 flu shot webpage.
COVID-19 Booster Shots and Additional Doses
VA offers COVID-19 booster vaccinations six months after your second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination, OR two months after the single Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine. You can only get a booster shot after completing the primary vaccine series. Veterans currently enrolled in VA health care may use VA’s online appointment scheduling tool to schedule appointments at the La Jolla Medical Center.
If you need assistance with a ride to your COVID vaccination appointment, VA San Diego can help with free Uber/Lyft rides. Set up your vaccination appointment by calling 858-552-7475 and then call 855-205-7325 to organize the ride.
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.
VA to Start Processing Disability Claims for Conditions Related to Particulate Matter
The VA will begin processing disability claims August 2, 2021, for asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis on a presumptive basis based on presumed particulate matter exposures during military service in Southwest Asia and certain other areas — if these conditions manifested within 10 years of a qualifying period of military service.
VA will conduct outreach to impacted veterans and survivors to inform them about their eligibility and will provide information on how to apply. Veterans and survivors who believe they may be eligible for the newly established presumptive conditions are encouraged to apply. For more information on the new presumptive conditions, visit their website at Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Exposures - Public Health (va.gov).
VA Statement on Printing and Mailing Delay
Due to supply chain and staffing shortages, the vendor contracted by the Government Publishing Office to provide printing services for the Department of Veterans Affairs is experiencing delays in printing and mailing notification letters to veterans and claimants.
In response to the mailing delays and to protect the best interest of claimants, the Veterans Benefits Administration is extending their response period by 90 calendar days for claimants with letters dated between July 13, 2021, and December 31, 2021. If a claimant does not reply to a time-limited notification, such as making an election of benefits or services, or reporting for a scheduled compensation and pension examination, VBA will not take adverse action to deny, reduce or terminate benefits and services unless: 1) the claimant is contacted and there is documentation of their right to respond; 2) the requested information has been received; or 3) the response period has lapsed.