Brindisi: I will keep working with members of both parties to deliver results
President Donald Trump signed Congressman Anthony Brindisi’s Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2019 to preserve critical VA housing and travel programs set to expire at the end of September. Brindisi’s legislation, cosponsored by Republican Congressman Mike Bost (IL-12), previously passed both chambers of Congress and was signed into law earlier this week.
“Extending these key VA programs shows how much we can accomplish when we work together to get things done,” Brindisi said. “I’m proud that the first law I passed is one that will make a difference for the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to serve our country. I will keep working with members of both parties to deliver results for Upstate New York veterans.”
Brindisi’s legislation makes technical corrections to VA statute and extends the following programs:
- A two-year extension of authority to fund financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing (authorizes appropriations at $380 million)
- A one-year extension of VA’s authority to temporarily expand payments and allowances for beneficiary travel in connection with veterans receiving care from vet centers
- A one-year extension of VA’s authority relating to vendee loans
- A one-year extension of VA’s authority to operate a regional office in the Philippines
This is Brindisi’s third bill supporting veterans and our nation’s service-members to pass the House. Brindisi passed the Support for Suicide Prevention Coordinators Act through the House of Representatives in May. His Support Procurement of our Nation’s Stainless Steel Act (SPOONSS) passed the House in July as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.