Ocean County American Legion

Legislative Notes

​​Courtesy of Past County Commander Bill Palme

 
 
Ocean County American Legion
Legislative Notes
1/31/23 Update
 
FEDERAL
 
VA EMERGENCY CARE UPGRADE
 
Starting Jan. 17, Veterans in acute suicidal crisis will be able to go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for emergency health care at no cost – including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days. Veterans do not need to be enrolled in the VA system to use this benefit. This expansion of care will help prevent Veteran suicide by guaranteeing no cost, world-class care to Veterans in times of crisis. It will also increase access to acute suicide care for up to 9 million Veterans who are not currently enrolled in VA.
 
CONGRESS
 
The Senate met on Tuesday and elected Sen. Murray (D-WA) as President pro tempore. She is the first woman to hold that position. Sen. Schumer (D-NY) continues as the Majority Leader, and Sen. McConnell (R-KY) is the Minority Leader.
 
HOUSE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
 
Six new members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC) are veterans, including three former Navy SEALs, a retired Navy Commander, a 10-year Navy helicopter pilot and an Army Ranger. There are now 9 veterans on the HVAC committee looking to improve operation at the VA. One of the Veterans, Mike Bost (R-Illinois) is a co-chair of the HVAC.
 
2023 WASHINGTON CONFERENCEThe American Legion's Washington Conference will be back in person on 2/26 to 3/1 2023. This event allows our organization’s leadership to meet with elected officials to discuss legislative initiatives and priorities important to Legion members and their families. It also provides a forum that allows Legionnaires to hear from senators, representatives, and officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as they address our members at the conference.
 
 
2021-2022 Bills 118 th Congress
 
Active Bills Since Last Report
 
H.R.7939 — 117th Congress (2021-2022) Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022 Sponsor: Levin, Mike [Rep.-D-CA-49] (Introduced 06/03/2022) Cosponsors: (3) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs; Armed Services; Budget Latest Action: 01/05/2023 Became Public Law No: 117-333. 
 
S.4949 — 117th Congress (2021-2022) National Cemeteries Preservation and Protection Act of 2022 Sponsor: Tester, Jon [Sen.-D-MT] (Introduced 09/27/2022) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 01/05/2023 Became Public Law No: 117-355.
 
 H.R.7735 — 117th Congress (2021-2022) Improving Access to the VA Home Loan Benefit Act of 2022 Sponsor: Bost, Mike [Rep.-R-IL-12] (Introduced 05/12/2022) Cosponsors: (2) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/27/2022 Became Public Law No: 117-308. 
 
 H.R.7335 — 117th Congress (2021-2022) MST Claims Coordination Act Sponsor: Luria, Elaine G. [Rep.-D-VA-2] (Introduced 03/31/2022) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/27/2022 Became Public Law No: 117-303.
 
H.R.6961 — 117th Congress (2021-2022) Dignity for MST Survivors Act Sponsor: Mrvan, Frank J. [Rep.-D-IN-1] (Introduced 03/07/2022) Cosponsors: (4) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/27/2022 Became Public Law No: 117-300.
 
H.R.6604 — 117th Congress (2021-2022) Veterans Eligible to Transfer School (VETS) Credit Act Sponsor: Buchanan, Vern [Rep.-R-FL-16] (Introduced 02/04/2022) Cosponsors: (0) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/27/2022 Became Public Law No: 117-297.
 
 H.R.2724 — 117th Congress (2021-2022) VA Peer Support Enhancement for MST Survivors Act Sponsor: Delgado, Antonio [Rep.-D-NY-19] (Introduced 04/21/2021) Cosponsors: (39) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/27/2022 Became Public Law No: 117-271. 
 
S.4949 — 117th Congress (2021-2022) National Cemeteries Preservation and Protection Act of 2022 Sponsor: Tester, Jon [Sen.-D-MT] (Introduced 09/27/2022) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 01/05/2023 Became Public Law No: 117-355.
 
 
NEW JERSEY
 
2022-2023 Bills – NJ 219th Legislative Session
 
Active Bills Since Last Report
 
A131/S3434 Requires EDA administer small business loan program to provide loans to small businesses owned or controlled by certain veterans. 1/11/2022 Introduced, Referred to Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee; Latest Action: 1/10/2023 Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee.
 
A854/S160 Removing requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations, thereby broadening eligibility for certain veterans' benefits. Latest Action:  1/11/2022 Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee, 1/23/2023 Reported as an Assembly Committee Substitute and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee; 1/11/2022 Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.
 
A3142/S1564 Authorizes grants to purchase and rehabilitate abandoned homes for homeless veterans.  Latest Action: 1/26/2023 Passed by the Assembly (78-0-0); 1/26/2023 Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
 
A3938/S3504 Allows gross income tax deduction for surviving spouses of certain veterans.  Latest Action: Senate; 1/26/2023 Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee
 
A4923/S3492 Requires converting portion of Paramus and Menlo Park veterans' memorial homes into single occupancy rooms; requires upgrades to ventilation systems; provides Adjutant General discretion for additional room considerations. Latest Action: 1/23/2023 Reported out of Asm. Comm. with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee.
 
A5009/S3294 Requires DHS to disregard certain federal pension benefits for veterans in making Medicaid eligibility determinations. Latest Action: 1/10/2023 Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee
 
A5030/S2665 Requires DMVA establish Veterans Outdoor Recovery Task Force. Latest Action: 1/10/2023 Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.
 
A1049/S3485 Increases personal needs allowance to $50 for recipients of Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income who are veterans or spouses of veterans and provides for annual cost-of-living increase in allowance. Latest Action: 1/19/2023Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
 
A5047/S3505 Qualifies certain disabled veterans for toll rate exemptions and exemptions from motor vehicle registration fees. Latest Action: 1/26/2023 Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee
 
A5048/S99 Exempts certain surviving spouses and surviving civil union partners of certain disabled veterans from components of the realty transfer fee. Latest Action: 1/12/2023 Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.
 
A5107 Expands NJT Access Link paratransit service area to include certain veteran’s health care facilities; appropriates $1 million. Latest Action: 1/23/2023 Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee
 
A5109/S3464 Requires MVC waiver of motorcycle road test for certain veterans. Latest Action: 1/23/2023 Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee
 
A5117 Permits fair share affordable housing bonus credit for certain transitional housing reserved for occupancy by veterans.  Latest Action: 1/26/2023Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing Committee
 
A5119 Requires DMVA establish veteran’s facility in Ocean or Monmouth County. Latest Action: 1/26/2023 Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee
 
A5138/S3465 Indexes amount of veterans' income tax exemption for inflation. Latest Action: 1/12/2023 Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee.
ACR140/SCR110 Honors Korean veterans of Vietnam War. Latest Action:  No further Information available.
ACR172 Proposes constitutional amendment authorizing Legislature to extend civil service hiring preference to veterans who did not serve in time of war. Latest Action: 1/10/2023Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.
 
S3500 Streamlines emergency medical technician certification process for certain veterans. Latest Action: 1/26/2023 Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
 
SR110 Encourages federal Department of Veterans Affairs to extend Veterans Health Administration-Uber Health Connect program to New Jersey.  Latest Action: No further Information available.
 
 
 
For Details of NJ Legislative bills go to https://legiscan.com/NJ