Last week, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) helped introduce the VA Extenders Act of 2024 to extend critical Veterans Affairs’ programs and services Southwest Washington veterans rely on, led by Reps. Emilia Sykes (OH-13) and Mark Takano (CA-39).

The legislation would prevent a lapse in benefits for veterans and their families at the end of the month by reauthorizing several key veteran programs and services for one year. It includes provisions to support veterans’ nursing home care, mental health care, and transportation to medical appointments, as well as extending resources for unhoused veterans and burial benefits.

“We can’t ever back away from our promise to take care of our nation’s heroes after they’ve returned home,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “With critical programs set to expire at the end of the month, Congress needs to quickly pass an extension to avoid lapses in benefits for veterans and their families who rely on VA care. Veterans across Southwest Washington already experience gaps in vital resources, so I’ll keep fighting to get them the urgently-needed support they deserve.”

Earlier this month, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez testified before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee in support of her bipartisan Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act. The Congresswoman also continues to fight to reopen a Lewis County VA clinic to reduce travel burdens for rural veterans who now can face up to a full day of travel for their medical appointments.

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez has recovered $192,578 for constituents owed to them by the VA. She also co-led the bipartisan VET MEDS Act to support veterans’ access to VA-certified specialists and examiners in rural and high-need communities, which was signed into law as part of a larger Senate package in October 2023.

Full text of the legislation is available here.

“As public servants, we have an obligation to serve our veterans as well as they have served our country. I’m proud to co-lead the VA Extenders Act to ensure veterans can continue to access the benefits and services they have rightfully earned,” said Rep. Sykes. “I urge my colleagues to immediately pass this critical legislation so our veterans and their families do not have to worry about a lapse in the benefits they rely on.”

“I am very glad to work with Representative Sykes on this important legislation to keep much-needed VA services in place for veterans who need them,” said Rep. Takano, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “Whether it is covering nursing home care for disabled and elderly veterans, keeping veterans at risk of homelessness in their homes or providing burial benefits to ease the burden on a veteran’s family, these are programs that veterans and their families rely on and benefits they have earned. I hope we can get this common-sense bill passed as soon as possible,” said Ranking Member Takano. 

Reps. Yadira Caraveo (CO-08), Frank Mrvan (IN-01), Matt Cartwright (PA-08), and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), and Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) are also original cosponsors of this legislation.