On May 15, the House Veterans Affairs Committee approved, by voice vote, legislation (H.R. 67) to improve outreach activities for veterans and their families. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC), would authorize the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist states in carrying out programs to improve outreach and assistance to veterans and their families in order to ensure that all persons qualifying for veterans’ benefits and programs are informed and assisted. The secretary also would be authorized to provide grants to state veterans’ agencies for improved outreach activities. H.R. 67 would authorize $25 million annually for FY2007-2009 to implement these actions.
