Supporting veterans in Eastern Washington and helping them overcome the unique challenges they face every day will always be one of my top priorities. This week, the House of Representatives took a few important steps in the right direction to make life a little bit easier for those who served.

First, the House passed the AUTO for VETS Act. This legislation will make it possible for a veteran to purchase a second vehicle with modifications to meet the needs of their service-connected disability. This is so important, especially in rural Eastern Washington, where veterans rely on their vehicles for everyday errands, as well as getting to and from VA appointments. Click here to learn more about the VA automobile allowance and adaptive equipment benefits.

Next, we passed the REMOVE Copays Act to eliminate the copays for any veteran’s first three outpatient mental health appointments in a calendar year. With 22 veterans taking their own life each day in the United States, my hope is that this legislation will play a critical role in helping us turn the tide on this mental health crisis that is taking our heroes from us too soon.

Finally, I was proud to help pass the Solid Start Act to permanently authorize and expand the VA Solid Start Program, which was created back in 2019. In just a few short years, this program has been incredibly successful in helping veterans transition from active-duty service back into civilian life by checking in regularly and helping connect them to the programs and benefits they’ve earned. Making sure this program remains in place for years to come is a no brainer. 

I’m proud of the progress we made this week, but our work is far from over. We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude we can never repay, but that will never stop me from doing everything I can to try.