House Passes Bipartisan Dole Act to Revolutionize Veterans’ Healthcare and Benefits

On Monday, the House of Representatives passed the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, known as the Dole Act, with overwhelming bipartisan support.

The legislation, approved by a 389-9 vote, aims to enhance healthcare, housing, and education opportunities for veterans while addressing longstanding issues within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The bill represents a significant victory for Republicans, who have pushed for reforms that allow veterans greater access to healthcare services at home.

Key provisions in the Dole Act shift decision-making power on healthcare away from the VA bureaucracy to medical professionals, a move praised by Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

“The Dole Act ensures that the VA bureaucracy cannot override a doctor’s medical decisions,” Bost said on the House floor. “This legislation is a foundation for addressing the issues that affect veterans and their families daily.”

Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) emphasized the importance of providing comfort for terminally ill veterans, ensuring they can spend their final days at home without losing VA benefits for their families.

The Dole Act will now move to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain in the Democratic-controlled chamber. While the bill has garnered broad support from veterans’ advocacy groups, concerns remain over certain provisions.

Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), the ranking member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, praised the bill as “an investment in care for millions of veterans and current service members.” He highlighted its provisions to connect caregivers with support services like respite care.

However, he criticized earlier GOP proposals that he said prioritized outsourcing VA care to for-profit providers. Takano ultimately supported the compromise bill, though he expressed frustration with parts of it.

Advocates have hailed the Dole Act as a critical step forward. The legislation addresses a wide range of issues facing veterans, including housing, mental health, and in-home care. It provides grants for transitional housing, supports homeownership for Native American veterans on tribal lands, and expands mental health services.

Additionally, the bill funds ambulance transportation to VA facilities and increases access to at-home healthcare services for veterans who require caretakers.

The Dole Act also focuses on education, expanding scholarship opportunities and modernizing tools for educational assistance. These measures aim to help veterans transition to civilian life by improving access to higher education and workforce training.

Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, celebrated the bill’s passage in the House, noting that it reflects over a year of work by his organization. “This transformative legislation will benefit millions of veterans, caregivers, survivors, and their families,” Schwab said.

He urged the Senate to act swiftly to send the bill to the President’s desk, stressing that veterans and their families are counting on its enactment.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) also expressed strong support for the bill, calling it “a well-negotiated piece of bipartisan legislation” developed with input from veterans, caregivers, and survivors across the country.

With its broad scope and bipartisan backing, the Dole Act has the potential to transform the lives of countless veterans and their families. Advocates are now focused on securing Senate approval to make these reforms a reality.