Dependable Employment and Living Improvements for Veterans Economic Recovery Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Takano for getting this important legislation to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7105, a crucial piece of veterans legislation that aptly bears the name of our distinguished ranking member, Dr. Roe.

The bill now includes three pieces of legislation that I introduced to ensure VA is able to fulfill its mission of supporting all those who have borne the battle. These three provisions will help improve the quality of care and address deficiencies that frustrate and even harm our veterans.

The first requires VA to address bureaucratic waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement identified by the Government Accountability Office's High Risk List.

A second provisions honors the sacrifices of our female veterans by ensuring they have access to properly fitted prosthetic items, just as their male counterparts do.

The third focuses on punitive debt collection practices by VA against our veterans, many of whom have done everything right. This provision sets limits on when VA may initiate collection proceedings and even gives our veterans the ability to update crucial benefit information online.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the House and Senate committees for getting this bipartisan bill to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation today.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. He has been a tireless advocate for veterans during that time.

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, there would not be a Texas if it were not for Tennessee.

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