Buckeye Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. – To ensure continuous support for the nation’s veterans, caregivers, and their families, U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced their bipartisan Critical Health Access Resource and Grant Extensions (CHARGE) Act of 2023 to extend essential Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and authorities currently set to expire May 11th including measures currently being implemented by VA to curb veteran homelessness, support caregivers, and assist State Veterans Homes dealing with staffing shortages.

“Our veterans answered the call to serve, and we have a responsibility to make sure they have the resources they need when they return home,” said Brown. “The CHARGE Act continues our tradition of nonpartisan work on the Veterans Affairs Committee to protect the housing and caregiving services that Ohio veterans rely on.” 

Among its many priorities, the CHARGE Act specifically:

• Increases the maximum reimbursement amount for VA grant recipient organizations providing temporary and transitional housing for homeless veterans. This is especially essential for organizations in rural areas with limited access to alternative funding sources;
• Allows VA to continue providing gap services and support to homeless veterans when other supportive programs are not available—including shelter, transportation, landlord incentives for permanent housing, and more;
• Extends authority to allow veterans and caregivers in the VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers to elect for virtual home visits through September 30, 2023 or until VA finalizes their new regulations for the program;
• Extends the State Veterans Homes’ occupancy rate requirement waiver until September 30, 2024 so that state homes are not financially penalized for staffing shortages; and
• Makes permanent an authority that allows VA to share personal protective equipment, vaccines, medical supplies, and other resources with State Veterans Homes.

Brown is the longest-serving Ohioan on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and has long fought for veterans and their families. Last year, he worked with colleagues to pass the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 that was recently signed into law by President Biden.

Original source can be found here.