Washington, D.C. -  Today, Congresswoman Darlene Hooley (OR-05) will join with her colleagues in the House of Representatives in passing a number of bills in support of veterans across the country.  The House is expected to approve eight veterans bills this evening.

H.R.1527, the Rural Veterans Access to Health Care Act allows veterans who are in areas where there isn’t readily available access to VA facilities to seek treatment from local, non-VA providers in their community.

“It’s wrong to make our disabled veterans, who have already spent an extended period of time away from their homes defending our country, return home only to force them to travel again to seek the treatment they need,” Hooley said.

Also to be considered by the House this evening is H.R.5892, the Veterans Disability Benefits Claims Modernization Act of 2008, which will update the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure the accurate and timely delivery of compensation to veterans, their families and survivors.

“Many veterans depend on their disability benefits for part or even all of their expenses and we need to ensure that they receive their benefits in a timely manner,” Hooley added.

In addition, the House will consider H.R.6445 which prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting copayments for hospital or nursing home care from veterans who are catastrophically disabled.

The House of Representatives will also vote on H.R.4255, authorizing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assist the Paralympic Program of the United States Olympic Committee; H.R.674, to repeal the provision of law requiring termination of the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans; H.R.2192, establishing an Ombudsman within the Department of Veterans Affairs; H.R.6225, the Injunctive Relief for Veterans Act of 2008; and H.R.6221, the Veteran-Owned Small Business Protection and Clarification Act of 2008 which requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to comply with the contracting goals and preferences for small business concerns owned or controlled by veterans.