REP. PANETTA REINTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE VA SUPPORT FOR VETERANS

The following information was released by the office of California Rep. Jimmy Panetta:

United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) reintroduced two bipartisan bills to support our veterans in their pursuit to receive timely and effective healthcare and disability claims.

Representative Panetta authored and introduced the bipartisan Priority Response for Veterans Impacted by Disasters and Emergencies (PROVIDE) Actwith Representatives Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Clay Higgins (R-LA). The PROVIDE Act directs the VA Secretary to ensure that veterans impacted by major disasters are eligible for expedited processing of disability claims. Moreover, the legislation would establish flexible evidence requirements for veterans that experienced major disasters, such as wildfires. Currently, evidence requirements for such claims fail to consider that documents may have been damaged or destroyed. The Representatives' legislation would provide greater flexibility as to the type of evidence required for such VA disability claims.

Representative Panetta also authored and introduced the bipartisan Veterans Earned Transportation (Vets ETA) Actwith Representatives Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). The Vets ETA Act would permanently reauthorize a VA program that provides transportation services for veterans to better access vocational rehabilitation, counseling, and medical treatment, particularly for those who are visually impaired, elderly, immobile, or living in remote and rural areas.

"Many veterans who live in rural areas or in locations prone to major natural disasters, including in parts of our 19th Congressional District, require specialized support to receive healthcare and expedited processing for disability claims," said Rep. Panetta. "These bipartisan pieces of legislation would ensure that our veterans are able to take full advantage of the services offered by the VA. It's our responsibility in Congress to listen to our constituents and remove as many barriers as possible so that veterans can get the service and care that they they've earned and deserve."