As Congress finishes up the year, VetsFirst has secured inclusion of a key disability provision in the House-passed version of the recently negotiated National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014. This provision will require training for separating servicemembers on disability-related employment and education protections, including those available through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), in the mandatory Transition Assistance Program (TAP). This training can help veterans who are disabled or who may become disabled better understand their rights under the law, which will allow them to successfully transition to work or school following their military service. The NDAA must next be considered by the Senate before going to the President for his signature.
VetsFirst also advocated for the inclusion of the Housing Assistance for Veterans Act (HAVEN Act) in the NDAA. The HAVEN Act would increase the ability of nonprofit organizations to assist disabled and low-income veterans with needed housing adaptations and home repairs. A lack of time to consider a robust slate of amendments, however, ensured that the HAVEN Act was not included in the negotiated NDAA package. VetsFirst remains committed to ensuring that the bi-partisan HAVEN Act becomes law.
In addition, VetsFirst has been leading the veterans’ community support of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Disabilities Treaty). Our partners in the veterans’ community joined us in promoting ratification through social media, membership alerts, and organizational letters of support to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The treaty was the subject of two substantive hearings this Congress that have provided a strong foundation for Senate consideration. We remain hopeful that the treaty will be considered by the full Senate next year.
VetsFirst is prepared to re-engage when Congress returns for their second session and will continue to promote policies, laws, and congressional actions that lead to the full integration into society at all levels of our disabled veterans and people living with disabilities. It has been a successful year at pushing key priorities and we are in a good position to pivot forward in 2014 and resume work on policies that will create a better path forward for improving the lives of veterans living with disabilities.