Policy Corner: June 10, 2022
Categories: Policy Corner Archives
House Passes Gun Safety Legislation
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted 223-204 to pass a package of gun safety legislation called the “Protecting Our Kids Act,” that includes a series of individual bills aimed at preventing gun violence. The legislation would raise the legal age to buy certain semiautomatic centerfire rifles from 18 to 21, establish new federal offenses for gun trafficking and for selling large-capacity magazines, and allow local governments to compensate individuals who surrender such magazines through a buyback program, among other provisions. On June 16, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on “Protecting America’s Children from Gun Violence.” However, it is not expected that the Senate will agree to similar measures.
Senators Ask GAO to Study Problems with Individuals with Disabilities Accessing Health Care
Several Senators recently sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) asking GAO to study the barriers facing Americans with disabilities when they seek access to medical treatment, services, equipment and care. The letter stated, “Even though discrimination based on disability is prohibited by law, people with disabilities continue to face issues with accessibility when it comes to getting the healthcare they need, when they need it. The lack of accessible healthcare contributes to and exacerbates health disparities experienced by people with disabilities.” The letter was sent by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).
Senator Calls for VA to Suspend Reassessment for Family Caregiver Program
Yesterday, Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will suspend its annual reassessment process for participants in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (Caregivers Program) as part of its ongoing review of the Program’s eligibility criteria. VA also announced it will not discharge participants in the program or reduce stipends based on a reassessment. This came about as a result of a letter sent by Senator Tester to VA about the annual reassessments of veterans and their caregivers as being an extremely invasive process, often taking a mental and physical toll on family caregivers.
The previous Administration enacted regulations that narrowed the Program’s eligibility to veterans with a 70 percent or higher service-connected disability rating, and those with an inability to perform an activity of daily living without assistance each and every time the activity occurs. These regulations would have led to an estimated 90 percent of Post-9/11 veterans losing their eligibility for the program. In addition to addressing reassessment, Senator Tester has been advocating to expand the Caregivers Program to veterans of all eras.
Senator Casey Urges VA to Make the VA Website Accessible
On June 7, Senator Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Pa.), Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, led a bipartisan, bicameral group of committee leaders in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough urging the agency to improve the VA website accessibility for veterans with disabilities. Senator Casey released a VA report that was required by him that showed only 10 percent of VA’s websites are accessible for people with disabilities, including blind, deaf and paralyzed veterans. However, as the report lacked key details, such as a detailed remediation plan timeline, Senator Casey and other Senators are calling on the VA to resubmit its report with more information.
Veterans use VA websites to access a range of benefits, including health care, disability claims, education and training, housing assistance and more. VA employees also use VA websites to serve veterans. Without full accessibility of all its websites, veterans face barriers accessing the benefits they earned, as well as VA employees with disabilities who are trying to help veterans.
The letter was signed by Senate Aging Committee Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-Kans.), as well as House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Ranking Member Michael Bost (R-Ill.). House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Chair Elaine Luria (D-Va.) and Ranking Member Troy Nehls (R-Tex.) as well as Subcommittee on Technology Modernization Chairman Frank Mrvan (D-Ind.) and Ranking Member Matthew Rosendale (R-Mont.) also joined Senator Casey in sending the letter.