Counties applaud passage of legislation supporting County Veterans Service Officers
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WASHINGTON —The National Association of Counties (NACo) today applauded Congress' passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement (Dole) Act, a bipartisan, bicameral package that seeks to reform and improve the delivery of healthcare, benefits, and services at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans, their families, and their survivors.
The legislation will help modernize access to care for millions of veterans across the country and, for the first time ever, provide federal resources for County Veterans Service Officers through the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach (CVSO) Act.
"The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act will enhance access to federal benefits for veterans, a process facilitated by County Veterans Service Officers in 29 states," said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase. "These officers, funded almost exclusively by counties and local taxpayers, face critical staffing challenges in high-demand and rural areas. The Dole Act will enable counties better to serve veterans, especially in underserved areas, improving outcomes for veterans and their families."
The Dole Act authorizes $10 million annually for two years for competitive grants to states to expand the work of CVSOs or comparable entities, providing new federal resources to county governments to expand CVSO staff and services to meet rising caseloads.
View NACo’s veterans affairs resources here.
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