U.S. Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 May Bring New Benefits to Veterans

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2010/12/22 - Updated: 2024/12/20
Publication Type: Informative
Topic: Disabled Veterans News - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: U.S. Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 addresses the needs of veterans including employment opportunities insurance and housing needs.

Why it matters: This article discusses the U.S. Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010, signed into law by President Obama. This legislation addresses various needs of American veterans, including employment opportunities, insurance, and housing. Key provisions include enhanced employment training programs, re-authorization of the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, increased insurance limits for disabled veterans, and strengthened education benefits - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

The Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 was signed into law this fall and addresses many of the needs of veterans; including employment opportunities, insurance and housing needs.

Main Item

President Obama signed The Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 law this fall. House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner said;

"This bill will make a big difference in the lives of many of America's brave veterans."

The New Law Addresses Many of the Needs of U.S. Veterans

Enhances Employment Opportunities

Provides an 18-month period for training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by the National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute.

Extends authority for certain qualifying work-study activities for purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs Reauthorization of Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education.

Working to Prevents Homeless Veterans

Reauthorizes appropriations for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.

Makes grants to programs and facilities to provide dedicated services for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children.

Ensuring the Welfare of U.S. Veterans and Their Families by Increasing Insurance Limits

Increases the amount of supplemental insurance for totally disabled veterans.

Creates a permanent extension of duration of Service-members' Group Life Insurance coverage for totally disabled veterans.

Adjusts coverage of dependents under the Service-members' Group Life Insurance.

Allows the opportunity to increase the amount of Veterans' Group Life Insurance.

Secures Compensation, Pensions and Other Benefits.

Protecting Service Members Called to Combat

Clarifies that Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) prohibits wage discrimination against members of the Armed Forces.

Honoring Fallen Service Members and Their Families

Increases certain burial and funeral benefits and plot allowances for veterans.

Allows interment in national cemeteries of parents of certain deceased veterans.

Reports on selection of new national cemeteries.

Strengthening Education Benefits

Extends the life of the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education.

Addressing Housing Needs of Disabled Veterans

Enhances disability compensation for certain disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses and disabled veterans in need of regular aid and attendance for residuals of traumatic brain injury.

Investing in Research for Gulf War Veterans

Allows for National Academies to review the best treatments for Gulf War illness.

Extends and modifies the National Academy of Sciences reviews and evaluations regarding illness and service in the Persian Gulf War and Post 9/11 Global Operations Theaters.

American Legion National Commander Jimmie Foster commented on the bill: "...In our view, the real successes were the passage of bills that affected nearly every veteran in America."

There are continuing issues related to the ongoing physical and mental healthcare needs of veterans. Congress is working on ways to develop, train and retain healthcare professionals within the VA Healthcare system and improve the quality of health-related research initiatives within the VA. There is ever increasing pressure on the VA to effectively treat and care for the complex health needs of returning veterans.

Author Credentials: Ian was born and grew up in Australia. Since then, he has traveled and lived in numerous locations and currently resides in Montreal, Canada. Ian is the founder, a writer, and editor in chief for Disabled World. Ian believes in the Social Model of Disability, a belief developed by disabled people in the 1970s. The social model changes the focus away from people's impairments and towards removing barriers that disabled people face daily. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and achievements, check out his bio.