WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today advanced two provisions authored by U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) to enhance the care of Nevada’s disabled veterans and support homeless veterans in need of housing assistance. Heller’s amendments will now be included in the U.S. Senate's Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, which is expected to receive a vote next week.

The first Heller amendment would ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Caregiver Program, which is designed for our most severely injured veterans, has the staffing necessary in Reno, Las Vegas, and across the country to provide the attention and support these veterans and their caregivers deserve. Heller has a strong record of ensuring the VA is operating the caregiver program effectively and with the veteran and caregivers’ best interests in mind. Earlier this year, Heller along with U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) contacted Acting VA Secretary Robert Wilke urging a retrospective review of the eligibility determinations of caregivers who were discharged from the program. The letter is available HERE

The second amendment, which Heller filed with U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), would prohibit the VA from transferring any funds out of the VA’s homeless veteran programs. Heller has repeatedly fought back against the VA’s repurposing of funds from VA programs designed to assist homeless veterans. In a December 2017 letter to former VA Secretary David Shulkin, Heller doubled down on his opposition and urged Shulkin to stop the VA’s proposal to redirect funding intended to help the homeless veteran population. The letter is available HERE. In April of 2018, he requested that the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies provide robust funding to the Supporting Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program, the Grant and Per Diem (GDP) Program, and case management and supportive services as administered by the VA because these programs are central to federal efforts to end veteran homelessness. The letter is available HERE.

“One of my greatest responsibilities in the U.S. Senate is advocating for Nevada’s 300,000 veterans, and the Veterans Affairs appropriations bill keeps our country’s promise to provide care, benefits, and resources for every veteran—whether they are in urban Las Vegas and Reno or rural Elko and Pahrump,” Heller said. “Not only was I proud to advocate for the $1.8 billion in funding for veteran homelessness in this bill and protection of funding for Filipino veterans, but I also secured two amendments that increase accountability over the VA caregiver program and use of homeless veteran funds. Both programs provide critical services for our veterans who are the most severely disabled and those who have fallen on hard times, and I am proud to support and protect these programs for Nevada’s veteran community.”

Background:

Heller #2949: Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report on the number of coordinators of caregiver support services in each VA medical center, number of staff for appeals for the caregiver program in each VA medical center, and the VA’s expected staff-to-participant ratio for the program.

Heller #3056: Prohibits funds from being transferred from programs supporting veteran homelessness services. Heller filed this amendment with U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT).

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