H.R.1969 - No Wrong Door for Veterans Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.1969, the "No Wrong Door for Veterans Act," focuses on improving and reauthorizing the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The act extends the program's duration, enhances emergent suicide care provisions, and reauthorizes funding. It also includes provisions for adaptive prostheses for veterans and extends limits on pension payments.
Expected Effects
This act will likely lead to improved mental health services for veterans, particularly in suicide prevention. The extension of pension payment limits provides continued financial support to eligible veterans. Furthermore, the inclusion of adaptive prostheses expands healthcare benefits, promoting physical well-being.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced Suicide Prevention: Improves access to and coordination of suicide prevention services for veterans.
- Extended Program Duration: Ensures the continuation of critical mental health support through 2026.
- Increased Funding: Provides additional financial resources for the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program.
- Improved Access to Prostheses: Expands healthcare benefits to include adaptive prostheses for sports and recreation.
- Continued Pension Payments: Extends limits on pension payments, providing financial stability for veterans.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for Bureaucracy: Increased reporting requirements for eligible entities could create administrative burdens.
- Limited Scope: The act primarily focuses on specific aspects of veteran care, potentially overlooking other needs.
- Funding Dependency: Reliance on grant funding may create uncertainty for long-term program sustainability.
- Delayed Implementation: Time is needed to implement the new provisions, potentially delaying benefits for some veterans.
- Lack of Comprehensive Reform: The act addresses specific issues but does not represent a comprehensive overhaul of veteran care.
Constitutional Alignment
The act aligns with the Constitution's mandate to "provide for the common defence" and "promote the general Welfare" (Preamble) by supporting veterans' mental and physical health. Congress's authority to legislate for the military is established in Article I, Section 8, which grants the power to raise and support armies and provide for a navy. The act falls within this enumerated power.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).