{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://valadao.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1529", "Congressman Valadao Introduces Legislation to Extend Critical Veterans Services and Programs", "2024-09-20", "2024", "2024-09", "Republican", "House", "CA", "David G. Valadao", "V000129", "valadao.house.gov", "valadao", "https://valadao.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) and House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (IL-12) introduced the VA Extenders Act of 2024. The bill extends certain Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) authorities that are set to expire at the end of the fiscal year.\n\n\u201cVeterans have made incredible sacrifices for our freedom, and it is our responsibility to see that they continue receiving the benefits and services they\u2019ve earned,\u201d said Congressman Valadao. \u201cThis legislation ensures the VA can continue providing services our veterans and their families rely on, like resources for homeless veterans, new treatment options for PTSD, transportation services for medical appointments, and more. Making sure our veterans can continue accessing these critical services is the least we can do for the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. I look forward to working alongside Chairman Bost and my colleagues in the House and the Senate to get this bill signed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must ensure that VA maintains the authority to deliver critical health care services and benefits to veterans,\u201d said Chairman Bost. \u201cI want to thank my friend and colleague, Rep. Valadao, for leading the VA Extenders Act of 2024 on behalf of veterans and their families. This year\u2019s extenders bill includes important provisions guaranteeing that VA will continue to provide crucial services like inpatient nursing home care, mental health care access for rural veterans, alternative therapy options for treating PTSD, vitally important homelessness prevention services, and more. As Chairman, I am proud to work with Rep. Valadao, as well as my colleagues in the House and Senate, on this important legislation and I look forward to sending it to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\u201d\n\nAmong other provisions, the VA Extenders Act of 2024 extends VA\u2019s authority to:\n\nOperate a grant program that encourages the development of specially adapted house assistive technology that enables more disabled veterans to live independently.\n\nOperate the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program, which provides outreach, case management, residential treatment, and community partner coordination and resources to homeless veterans.\n\nOperate a grant program to assist community organizations that serve homeless veterans with special needs, including women veterans, veterans who are elderly, terminally ill, mentally ill, or care for children.\n\nProvide critical transportation services through its Veterans Transportation Services Program for veterans traveling to and from medical appointments.\n\nCarry out a pilot program under the Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 (P.L. 116-171) to provide veterans with access to alternative mental health therapies, including animal and equine therapy, agritherapy, sports, recreation, art, and more.\n\nRead the full text of the bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://valadao.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1529"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9420178830623627, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}