WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today applauded passage by the U.S. of House of Representatives of bipartisan legislation to ensure veterans continue to have access to critical programs at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Following today’s House passage, the measure heads to the Senate for a vote.

“This legislation represents bipartisan efforts by the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs to help ensure our veterans continue to have access to dozens of important programs set to expire at the end of the month,” said Isakson. “I’m pleased to see the House pass this bipartisan bill to reauthorize 20 VA programs and services that will help homeless, disabled, rural and minority veterans, among others. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to follow suit and quickly pass this critical legislation and get it to the president’s desk without delay.”

The Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017 reauthorizes 20 healthcare programs and services at the VA for fiscal year 2018, which begins on Oct. 1, 2017. The legislation ensures that many important programs including veteran homelessness prevention and adaptive sports programs for disabled veterans continue to be available. It also reauthorizes VA nursing-home care to veterans with service-connected disabilities and funding for assistance and support to veterans’ caregivers.

Following today’s House passage, the measure heads to the Senate for a vote.

Current authorizations expire at the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, 2017.

A full section-by-section summary of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017 is available here. FY2018 Extenders Summary

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The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is chaired by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., in the 115th 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 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 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 armed services as well as more than 750,000 veterans.