Representative Angie Craig Helps Secure House Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Support Veterans' Mental Health

Press Release

Yesterday, U.S. Representative Angie Craig helped secure the House passage of the bipartisan Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act (CVSO) to help the Department of Veterans Affairs improve their veteran outreach and provide increased support to underserved veterans. This bill, which Craig cosponsored earlier this spring, would authorize $50 million annually for states to hire additional County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs), who are most often the best resources to help veterans and their families understand the resources at their disposal, file benefit claims and access their benefits.

Currently, 21 states lack any sort of formal CVSO programming.

"Over the years, my office has worked closely with County Veteran Service Officers in the Second District to help our veterans and their families access the benefits they earned after their service," said Representative Craig. "Every veteran -- no matter where they live -- should be able to access their VA benefits with ease, and this bill will help make sure that they can."

If signed into law, the CVSO Act would authorize $50 million annually to expand the work of CVSOs or comparable entities. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will award grants to states to improve their outreach to veterans, assist in the development and submission of claims on behalf of veterans, hire additional CVSOs and train CVSOs. To receive funds, a state must submit an application including a detailed plan for the use of these funds, how they will meet underserved veterans' needs and other information.

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