Rep. Peters Helps Pass Four Veterans’ Benefits Bills, Including $206m for San Diego

WASHINGTON, DC – This week, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) helped pass four more pieces of legislation that will help veterans get jobs and provide them with the benefits and recognition they have earned by serving our country. One of the bills includes $206 million for construction of a spinal cord injury research and treatment building for the Department of Veterans Affairs in San Diego.

“Bringing $206 million to San Diego for spinal cord research will combine the ground-breaking, innovative work that is already being done in our region with the ongoing needs that our warfighters have after their service. This will help San Diego continue pairing our scientific research leadership with veterans and their families who are suffering from debilitating injuries.

“We also know that helping our veterans get and maintain employment after they leave the military must continue to be a priority, which is why I was proud to support legislation that gives many of them necessary medical leave and another bill to expedite the hiring of veterans in Customs and Border Patrol where our veterans already have the leadership and much of the training necessary to be successful in that new role.”

The four pieces of legislation that passed the House are listed below:

• S. 2082 – Reauthorizes numerous programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) including support for homeless veterans, vocational benefits for servicemembers with debilitating injuries, and some funding for VA facility construction, including $206 million for a spinal cord injury research and treatment building in San Diego.
• The “Gold Star Fathers Act” would extend the preference eligible benefits open currently to mothers of permanently disable or deceased veterans to fathers.
• The “Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act” would alow federal employees who are veterans with service-connected disabilities to access leave for medical treatments for that disability
• The “Border Jobs for Veterans Act” would expedite hiring of veterans, or soon-to-be veterans, as Customs and Border Patrol officers.

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