Pelosi: House Passage of Two Veterans' Bills Shows Congress' Commitment to Our Nation’s Veterans

Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami/Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement tonight after the House passed two veterans' bills: the Veterans' Benefits Act, which will improve job opportunities, benefits, and programs for homeless veterans; and the Securing America's Veterans Insurance Needs and Goals (SAVINGS) Act, which requires that insurance companies in the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance program be more forthright and transparent about their policies and requirements.

“Today, with the Veterans Benefits Act, Congress has made bipartisan progress for our nation’s veterans on some of their most pressing issues, including job creation, benefits for those facing grievous injuries, and homelessness. It builds on our record of accomplishments: including advanced appropriations that provide the VA with timely and reliable funding, and the Post 9/11 GI Bill that restores the promise of a full, four-year scholarship for our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. I’m proud that the last four years have resulted in more progress for our veterans and military families than has been made since the passage of the original GI Bill in 1944.

“As the Veterans Benefits Act now heads to President Obama for his signature into law, we will continue to work in a bipartisan way for our veterans. Because there should be no division between Republicans and Democrats when it comes for supporting those who have worn our nation’s uniform – when they serve, and when they come home.

“The House also showed leadership on behalf of our military families in passing the SAVINGS Act, requiring disclosure and transparency when it comes to the life insurance policies of our servicemembers. I urge the Senate to pass this bipartisan bill.”