Improving Care for Our Veterans

Over the past two years, the Republican-led House has worked hard to identify and address gaps in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) care and services. Last week, I was proud to vote in favor of H.R. 8371, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, to further improve care for those who have served our nation.

This bipartisan bill includes several proposals to enhance veteran care by streamlining veterans' access to the Veterans Community Care Program and increasing access to VA health and support programs for veterans and their caregivers. Additionally, this bill addresses homelessness, modernizes the VA disability claims process, and expands economic opportunity for veterans seeking job training in high-tech industries by reauthorizing the VET-TEC program.

H.R. 8371 passed the House on November 18th with an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 389-9. The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act plays a key role in delivering on the promise House Republicans made to modernize the VA and make it more efficient for today’s veteran community as well as veterans in the future. 

Supporting the Great Lakes

Earlier this month, I joined my fellow Co-Chairs of the Great Lakes Task Force in urging the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to act on H.R. 7257, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2024. This bipartisan bill would reauthorize the GLRI, which is set to expire at the end of 2026, through 2031. Not only would this legislation reauthorize the program, but it would also expand funding from $475 million to $500 million in fiscal year 2026.

It is vitally important that we continue to foster a proactive approach to conservation so that local communities and stakeholders can maximize their efforts to strengthen both the ecology and the economy of the Great Lakes region.

Currently, more than 7,500 GLRI projects are either underway or have been completed, resulting in significant economic returns and tremendous environmental progress. Many of these projects strategically target the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem, including the clean-up of legacy pollution, invasive species, and harmful algal blooms.

The GLRI has long seen strong bipartisan support in Congress and is a proven success. Swift reauthorization of this program will ensure Southwest Michigan, and those who visit communities along the lakeshore, are able to enjoy the Great Lakes for generations to come!

Strengthening Youth Sports and Our Small Business Economy

Last week, I introduced H.R. 10221, the Youth Sports Facilities Act, with Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) and eight of my Congressional colleagues. This bipartisan legislation would amend Title II of the Public Works and Economic Development Act to add youth sports facilities to the list of eligible uses of Economic Development Assistance Grants.

The Youth Sports Facilities Act is a bipartisan solution designed to bring communities together, create economic opportunity, and improve students' physical and mental well-being across the nation. For too long, an area code has determined whether students could have access to facilities or resources necessary to participate and compete. I am proud to champion the Youth Sports Facilities Act because it opens the doors for communities across Michigan and around the country to create new opportunities for children to develop critical skills, enhance local tourism, and foster small business growth.

Voting to Protect Retirement Benefits

On November 12th, the House passed, and I supported, H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act. It was approved in the House by a vote of 327-75-1 and now awaits action in the Senate. This legislation repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who receive other benefits, such as a state or local government pension.

Passing this legislation was the right thing to do on behalf of the millions of police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other public servants who deserve their full retirement benefits which is why I supported this measure. 

An Update on Financial Services and Year-End Funding

On Friday, I joined Bloomberg's "Balance of Power" to discuss the future of the House Financial Services Committee and what this Congress needs to accomplish before adjourning. You can watch our full discussion in the interview below.

I hope you and your family have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving, and thank you for reading this edition of the Huizenga Huddle! 

If you would like to leave a comment or need assistance with a federal agency, please contact my office in Holland at (616) 251-6741 or send me an email on my website at Huizenga.House.Gov.