Southern Wisconsin Times

Congressman Bryan Steil from Wisconsin has introduced two legislative proposals aimed at supporting veterans and their families. The proposed bills are the No Veteran Falls Through the Cracks Act and the Survivor Benefits Fairness Act.

"Our men and women who have worn the uniform deserve the benefits they have fought for and earned," stated Congressman Steil. "Whether it is ensuring timely follow up from healthcare providers or protecting grieving families from bureaucratic overreach, I will continue to work to provide meaningful support to veterans and their families."

The No Veteran Falls Through the Cracks Act addresses a gap in current VA policy regarding mental health appointments. Presently, if a veteran cancels an appointment online, there is no requirement for the VA to follow up and reschedule as they would with phone cancellations. This bill aims to ensure that all canceled appointments are followed up on, potentially preventing broader mental health crises among veterans.

The Survivor Benefits Fairness Act targets an issue faced by families of deceased veterans. Currently, if a veteran's family receives benefit checks and the beneficiary dies during that month, the VA can demand repayment of that month's benefits. The new legislation seeks to prevent such demands in cases where a surviving spouse passes away.

Both pieces of legislation were previously introduced by Congressman Steil in earlier sessions of Congress.