WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today applauded action by the Senate to approve a number of critical veterans’ bills, including three pieces of legislation to increase benefits for veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and one piece of legislation to honor veterans who served in World War I. As chairman, Isakson worked with the bill sponsors to usher through these important measures benefitting veterans during the September legislative session.

In addition, Isakson introduced two new pieces of legislation: The Veteran Housing Stability and Homeless Prevention Act of 2016, a bill to improve benefits for homeless veterans, and the Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016, which would increase health care access and benefits for veterans.

“As chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I take very seriously our responsibility to serve those who have served us,” said Isakson. “Since we began this Congress in the wake of the VA’s wait time scandal, our committee has worked to bring reform to the VA and to ensure that our veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve.”

“Given the unfortunate political gridlock that has dominated Congress for the last several weeks, I was especially proud to help four pieces of veterans legislation get through the Senate this month. There is always more work to be done to help our veterans, but I thank my colleagues in the Senate for voting to keep our promises to those who put their lives at risk for us. I look forward to seeing these bills signed into law,” Isakson continued.

The following pieces of legislation passed the Senate unanimously this month:

• Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2016 (H.R.5985), which authorizes certain VA’s services for the next fiscal year and ensures that the VA’s homeless programs and adaptive sports programs, among other critical services for veterans, do not shut down. It also includes a provision that would allow the VA to protect veterans using VA education benefits if the Secretary of Education withdraws recognition of the agency that accredited a veteran’s school. The Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2016 passed the U.S. House of Representatives on September 13, 2016, and was signed into law by the president today.

• Veterans Care Agreement and West Los Angeles Leasing Act of 2016 (H.R.5936), which allows the VA to use the west Los Angeles VA campus for housing for homeless veterans. The Veterans Care Agreement and West Los Angeles Leasing Act of 2016 was passed by the House on September 12, 2016, and was signed into law by the president today.

• Charles Duncan Buried with Honor Act of 2016 (S.3076), which authorizes the VA to provide burial benefits for veterans to be buried in state cemeteries. The Charles Duncan Buried with Honor Act of 2016 was passed by the Senate on September 20, 2016, and must be passed by the House before being sent to the president’s desk.

• H.R.5937, a bill to authorize the American Battle Monuments Commission to acquire, operate and maintain the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial in Marnes-la-Coquette, France. This bill was passed by the House on September 12, 2016, and was signed into law by the president today.

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The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is chaired by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., in the 114th Congress. Isakson is a veteran himself – having served in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966-1972 – and has been a member of the Senate VA Committee since he joined the Senate in 2005. Isakson’s home state of Georgia is home to more than a dozen military installations representing each branch of the military as well as more than 750,000 veterans.