TAPS - Statements for the Record

2024

JANUARY 30, 2024
Before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs United States House of Representatives

Dependency And Indemnity Compensation for High School Students
Dependency And Indemnity Compensation for High School Graduates
Remarriage Letters
Remarried Surviving Spouse Benefits
Entry Points into VA For Survivors
PACT Act-Related Numbers
Fry Scholarship for Dual Eligible Surviving Spouses
Certificate Of Eligibility for Education Benefits Errors
Chapter 35 Sunset
Love Lives on Act of 2023 (H.R.3651, S.1266)
Caring For Survivors Act of 2023 (H.R.1083, S.414)
Honor All Gold Star Families
TAPS Overall Recommendations

2023

APRIL 26, 2023
Before the Committees On Veterans' Affairs United States Senate

Love Lives On Act of 2023
Caring for Survivors Act of 2023 (S.414))
Fry Scholarship Enhancement Act of 2023 (S.350)
Guard VA Benefits Act (S.740)
The GI Bill Foreign Institution Electronic Payments Act (S.1090)
Student Veterans Transparency and Protection Act (Draft Text)

MARCH 8, 2023
Before the Committees On Veterans' Affairs United States Senate and House of Representatives Joint House and Senate Veterans Service Organization Legislative Presentation

Pass Comprehensive Remarriage Legislation, The Love Lives On Act
Improve Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Surviving Families (S.414, H.R.1083)
Ensure Implementation of The PACT Act for Toxic-Exposed Veterans and Survivors
Expand Mental Health Services and Suicide Pre/Postvention
Raise Awareness of Opioid Dependence and Fentanyl-Related Deaths
Honor All Gold Star Families
Create One GI Bill for All Veterans, Survivors, and Families
Provide CHAMPVA Young Adult Coverage in Parity with the ACA

2022

APRIL 6, 2022
Before the Committee On Armed Services United States Senate Subcommittee On Personnel "Suicide Prevention and Related Behavioral Health Interventions In the Department of Defense"

Strengthening Military Suicide Prevention and Awareness
Postvention Is a Critical Component of Suicide Prevention
Supporting Suicide Loss Survivors and Military Families
Suicide Loss Survivor Testimonials

MARCH 29, 2022 - Senate
Before the Committee On Veterans' Affairs United States Senate; Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2021

Pass Landmark Toxic Exposure Legislation
Understanding Illnesses That May Result from Toxic Exposure
Caregiver Survivors and Their Children Need Support
Illness Loss Survivor Testimonials

MARCH 29, 2022 - House
Before the Committees On Veterans' Affairs and United States Senate and House of Representatives; Joint House and Senate Veterans Service Organization Legislative Presentation

H.R. 1183: Honoring The Oath Act Of 2021
H.R. 6131: Veterans Disability Claims Notification Improvement Act
H.R. 6165: Department of Veterans Affairs Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Processing Claims Improvement Act Of 2021
Discussion Draft: DIC Modernization Act
Discussion Draft: To amend Title 38, U.S. Code, to update certain terminology related to marriage under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Discussion Draft: Honoring Our Promise: Ensuring Equity in Accessing Military and Veteran Survivors Benefits Act
Discussion Draft: Department of Veterans Affairs Principles Of Benefits
Automation Act
Discussion Draft: Survivor Solid Start Act
Discussion Draft: Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create fact sheets for veterans and for survivors that compare benefits and compensation to monthly insurance benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act, and supplemental security income under Title XVI of the Social Security Act

MARCH 8, 2022
Before the Committees On Veterans' Affairs and United States Senate and House of Representatives; Joint House and Senate Veterans Service Organization Legislative Presentation

Pass Landmark Toxic Exposure Legislation (S.3003, H.R.3967)
Expand Mental Health Services for Suicide Loss Survivors (S.2817, H.R.5029)
Honor All Gold Star Families
Improve Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) For Surviving Families (S.976, H.R.3402)
Introduce Comprehensive Remarriage Bill to Allow Surviving Spouses To Retain Their Benefits Upon Remarriage
Create One GI Bill for All Veterans, Survivors and Families
Provide Champva Young Adult Coverage in Parity With The ACA (S.727, H.R.1801)

MARCH 2, 2022
Before the Committee on Armed Services, United States House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Military Personnel "Assessing the Effectiveness of Suicide Prevention Programs"

Suicide Prevention and Awareness
Suicide Postvention
Supporting Suicide Loss Survivors and Military Families

2021

NOVEMBER 17, 2021
Before the Committee on Oversight and Reform, United States House of Representatives, Subcommittee on National Security, Hearing on Mental Health and Suicide Among Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, And Family Members

TAPS Suicide Loss Support
Survivors' Insights on Mental Health and Suicide

OCTOBER 20, 2021
Before the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, United States House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, Hearing on Pending Legislation

H.R. 2827, Captain James C. Edge Gold Star Spouse Equity Act
H.R. 3402, Caring for Survivors Act of 2021
H.R. 3793, Supporting Families of the Fallen Act
H.R. 4191, Gold Star Spouses Non-Monetary Benefits Act
Legislation to extend increased Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

OCTOBER 13, 2021
Before the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, United States House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Health, Hearing on Pending Legislation

H.R. 5029, Expanding The Families of Veterans Access to Mental Health Services Act
Suicide Postvention Care for Families
Survivors Insights on Mental Health and Suicide
Survivor Support Included in VA Core Policies and Services

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021
Before the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, United States House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Hearing On Pending Legislation

Fry Scholarship Enhancement Act (Draft Text)
Draft - Chapter 35 for High School Students
Draft - Childcare Vouchers
Draft - EDU Transfer

MAY 5, 2021
Before the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, United States House of Representatives, Full Committee Legislative Hearing

Toxic Exposure Legislation

APRIL 28, 2021
Before the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, United States Senate, Hearing on Pending Legislation

Ensuring Survivor Benefits During Covid-19 Act Of 2021 (S.89)
Aid and Attendance Support Act of 2021 (S.219)
Caring For Survivors Act Of 2021 (S.976)
Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act (S.1095)
Fry Scholarship Enhancement Act (S.1096)
Caring For Survivors Act Of 2021 (S.976)
Toxic Exposure Legislation

APRIL 14, 2021
Before the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, United States House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity

Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act of 2021
Chapter 35 Delimiting Date
Modern Information Technology System

MARCH 10, 2021
Before the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, United States Senate, "Military Toxic Exposures: The Human Consequences of War"

Understanding Illnesses That May Result from Toxic Exposure

2020

DECEMBER 9, 2020
Before the Subcommittee On Disability and Memorial Affairs Committee On Veterans' Affairs, United States House of Representatives, "The Toxic World of Presumptive Service Connection Determinations: Why Should Our Veterans Wait?"

Understanding Illnesses That May Result from Toxic Exposure

DECEMBER 8, 2020
Before the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, United States House of Representatives

Allow Surviving Spouses to Maintain Education Benefits Upon Remarriage
Guarantee In- State tuition for Chapter 35 recipients
Eligibility for Survivors who fall in the 120 Day REFRAD period for the Fry Scholarship
Increase IT Funding for the Veterans Benefits Administration

2019

OCTOBER 22, 2019
Before the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, United States House of Representatives

H.R 1911- SFC Brian Woods Gold Star & Military Spouses Act
Remarried Surviving Military Spouses
Surviving Military Spouses Who Remarry After Age 57
Unremarried Surviving Military Spouses
Hold Yourself Out to be Married
Access to Children’s Medical Records
Maintaining Education Benefits After Remarriage

JULY 29, 2019
Before the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, United States House of Representatives

Title 38, Amend to Improve Educational Assistance Programs
H.R. 2227, Amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) for Spouses
Direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Study the Link Between Certain Economic Factors and Veteran Suicides

APRIL 9, 2019
Before the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, United States House of Representatives

Discussion Draft - Guard & Reserve
Discussion Draft - In-State Tuition
Discussion Draft - Transition Assistance
Discussion Draft - Definition of Dependents
Discussion Draft - 4th Administration, VETOPP Act

2018

NOVEMBER 15, 2018
Before the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, United States House of Representatives

Forever GI Bill Issues and Suggested Actions

MARCH 20, 2018
Before the Committee On Veterans Affairs, United States House of Representatives, Subcommittee On Economic Opportunity

Implementation Challenges of Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017
H.R. 1206: Reducing Barriers for Veterans Education Act of 2017
H.R. 3940: Veterans Education Disaster Assistance Act
H.R. 3023: Eliminate the Authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Pay Reporting Fees to Educational Institutions

2017

JULY 17, 2017
Before the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, United States House of Representatives

Working to Improve the GI Bill and the Fry Scholarship
Expansion of the Yellow Ribbon Program
Waiver for Distribution of the Transferred Post -9/11 GI Bill Benefits
Improve Chapter 35 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) and other Educational Benefits
Elimination of Time Limitation for Use of Entitlement

If you have questions about any of the legislative changes, contact us at policy@taps.org.