NW Kansas News

The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, led by Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), has approved 24 bills aimed at improving support for veterans, caregivers, and survivors. Among the legislation advanced are several of Senator Moran’s legislative priorities, including the Veterans’ ACCESS Act, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, and the HOPE for Heroes Act.

“The pieces of legislation that have now passed out of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs are crucial to the success of the Department of Veterans Affairs in carrying out its mission to support our nation’s veterans, their families and survivors,” said Sen. Moran. “I am grateful to all of the sponsors of these bills for their work on these proposals, and I am pleased that we were able to reach a bipartisan agreement to advance them to the full Senate.”

Senator Moran highlighted the importance of the ACCESS Act: “The ACCESS Act will empower veterans with greater flexibility and control over when, where and how to use the VA healthcare benefits they have earned through their service,” he said. “It will also provide life-saving support for veterans struggling with mental health conditions and addiction who have faced barriers to accessing the timely, quality care they need. Advancing the ACCESS Act is a crucial step forward for veterans everywhere, and I am grateful for strong support from committee members and veterans service organizations. I look forward to it being passed on the Senate floor and signed into law as soon as possible.”

Among other measures advanced is S.506 – Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act, which would establish a pilot program designed to improve coordination between Medicare and VA healthcare services for senior veterans.

S.800 – Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2025 seeks to expand research into how repetitive low-level blasts experienced during military service may affect brain health.

S.879 – Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act aims to enhance VA support for family caregivers transitioning back into employment or retirement after their caregiving duties end.

The HOPE for Heroes Act (S.1139) reauthorizes a suicide prevention grant program intended to bolster community outreach efforts by VA.

Another bill passed by the committee is S.1318 – Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act, which creates a 10-year initiative within the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) focused on correcting memorial records related to servicemembers’ religious heritage.

The committee also moved forward with S.2393 – Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, which would increase certain VA benefits such as disability compensation and dependency allowances in response to rising living costs.

A complete list of legislation passed by the committee can be found online.