House Bills to Provide Veterans Health Care, Reduce Veterans Homelessness and Joblessness Earn Crenshaw Support

WASHINGTON, DC – September 21, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Ander Crenshaw, a member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, voted for a series of bills that aim to put veterans back to work, reduce homelessness, and expand accessibility to health care.

“The servicemen and women who put their lives on the line to protect our freedom at home and abroad deserve our full support when it comes to health care, housing, and jobs,” said Crenshaw. “Carefully analyzed policy that expands accessibility to health care, reduces homelessness, and increases training and employment opportunities for skilled veterans makes common sense. Our veterans deserve opportunities for top-notch health care, a place to live, and the chance to use their expertise in the civilian sector. I’m proud to support legislation that opens doors for them to receive the care they’ve earned and allows them to put their job skills to full use.”

Crenshaw joined House colleagues in supporting passage of the following bills on Wednesday, September 19:

• Veterans Affairs Construction Projects and Powers (H.R. 6375):

H.R. 6375 would authorize $418 million for three projects in fiscal year 2013 or the year in which the funds are appropriated for renovations to a surgical suite and operating rooms in Miami, Florida and construction of a mental health facility in Seattle, Washington and a spinal cord injury center in Dallas, Texas.

• Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act (H.R. 6361):

Under current law, veterans who receive assistance, including bathing, feeding, dressing or adjusting prosthetic devices must count this aid as income when determining eligibility for assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. H.R. 6361 would exempt this aid from eligibility calculations, thus enabling more veterans to qualify for housing benefits.

• Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act of 2012 (H.R. 4124):

H.R. 4124 authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to provide demonstration grants to states to assist them in determining whether veterans who were trained as emergency medical technicians while in the armed forces could be hired as civilian EMTs without having to undergo training that is possible duplicative.