Congress enacts federal funding for County Veteran Service Officers

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the bipartisan, bicameral Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement (Dole) Act (H.R. 8371/S. 141). This omnibus-style legislation compiled several proposals that seek to modernize the delivery of healthcare, benefits and services at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

By: Michael Matthews
Legislative director, community, economic & workforce development/ veterans and military services committee

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan, bicameral Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement (Dole) Act (H.R. 8371/S. 141). This omnibus-style legislation compiled several proposals that seek to modernize the delivery of healthcare, benefits and services at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

NACo has been working in a coordinated fashion with other Veteran Service Organizations to pass this legislation because it included, for the first time, federal resources for County Veteran Service Officers (CVSOs) through a new competitive grant program. The provision is a slimmed-down version of the NACo endorsed, the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act (H.R. 984/S.106).

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