Congressman Neguse Urges Federal Agencies to Remove Barriers & Protect Benefits for America’s Veterans
Lafayette, CO — Following conversations with veterans across Colorado, Congressman Joe Neguse penned two letters to federal agencies requesting increased protections for VA benefits and the revision of existing program applications which unintentionally impede veterans seeking additional support for themselves and their families. Rep. Neguse first called on the Department of Education to remove barriers to financial aid for veterans and their families. He then wrote to the Office of Community Planning and Development (OCPD) regarding protections to ensure veterans receiving disability compensation are able to receive the full scope of federal loans they are entitled to as civilians.
On Veterans Day last week, Congressman Neguse joined local veterans, servicemembers, and their families at the Windsor American Legion. Rep. Neguse surprised eighty-year-old Vietnam Veteran, Ed Sharp, with replacement medals honoring his time in service. Mr. Sharp lost his medals during the devastating Marshall Fire in December 2021.
“Our veterans and service members have sacrificed so much to keep us safe, and it is our duty to make sure we honor our commitments to them when they come home—which ultimately includes ensuring that federal veterans benefits do not impede access to other federal assistance, whether it be supporting access to higher education and expanding safe and affordable housing or removing potentially restrictive barriers to compensation,” said Congressman Neguse.
In his first letter, Congressman Neguse wrote to the U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Federal Student Aid Chief Operating Officer Richard Cordray urging them to address issues related to federal student aid for veterans and their dependents. The letter requests that the Department of Education update the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, to ensure that veterans' noneducation benefits like Disability, Death Pension, Dependency, Indemnity Compensation, and more do not impact applicants’ income calculations for expected contributions.
Read the full letter HERE.
The second letter requests that the Office of Community Planning and Development (OCPD) revise current guidance regarding the inclusion and exclusion of income related to non-taxable Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation. The inadvertent inclusion of these payments as income has impacted local veterans' ability to receive federal support in the face of a disaster.
Read the full letter HERE.
Background
Congressman Neguse is a strong advocate for veterans and service members. In May, he introduced a bipartisan legislative package to ensure that veterans can access the services and resources they deserve. The bills, which include the Department of Veterans Affairs Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Processing Claims Improvement Act and the HUBS for Veterans Act, work to improve the treatment and compensation for veterans experiencing PTSD and create regional “network hubs” for veterans, service members, and their families to seek resources and support.
Earlier this year, Congressman Neguse introduced the Veterans Jobs Training Act to increase funding for the highly successful Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP), which works to expand job training and placement services for our nation’s veterans. In that same vein, as part of the 2023 government funding bill, Rep. Neguse secured $650,000 for the Veterans Community Project Transitional Housing in Longmont, Colorado. This project supports the construction of tiny homes for unhoused veterans in Colorado's Second Congressional District.
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