Ensuring that our veterans receive the best possible care and can succeed as civilians after they leave the military is critical. For too long, the endless bureaucracy and red tape at the VA have protected underperforming and negligent employees instead of supporting our veterans. 

On June 23, 2017, the President signed into law, with my support, the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. This commonsense legislation will shake up the antiquated and toxic culture that has plagued the VA while empowering the vast majority of hard working employees to restore the integrity of this department.

I also support providing veterans with the freedom to choose care at non-VA facilities when they live too far from or cannot get a timely appointment at a VA facility under the Veterans Choice Program. I have also supported programs that provide veterans with more employment opportunities and recently voted in support of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Education Assistance Act. This bill, which will hopefully move through the Senate soon, eliminates the 15-year time limit on the GI Bill benefits, so that veterans, their surviving spouses, and dependents can access these benefits at any point during their lifetime.

Rep. Royce with his father, Ed Royce Sr., a World War II veteran, look at memorabilia from World War II, during a 2013 honoring ceremony for Royce Sr. with a Distinguished Service Award at the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles.

My father is a veteran of WWII and served in a unit that was the "eyes and ears" of the Fifteenth Corps Artillery. So as Representative, I will continue to proudly stand with our nation's veterans and their families.

Efforts I’ve supported on behalf of veterans include improving medical services, and increasing cost of living adjustments, and disability compensation rates, as well as dependency and indemnity compensation rates for survivors of certain service-connected disabilities.

Because finding a job and establishing economic independence and security can be difficult for veterans and their families as they transition from active duty to civilian status, I’ve supported efforts to reform veteran job training and placement programs through a new system of incentives and accountability measures aimed at providing more economic security.

In addition, I have worked to pass into law the Veterans' Survivor Benefits Improvements Act that increases health care benefits for surviving spouses, extends life insurance coverage to spouses and children to help these families in their time of need and increases the amount of educational assistance for survivors and dependents, as well as the rates of veterans' basic educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill.

I supported H.R. 1627, a comprehensive bill to help provide for the needs of veterans, their families, and survivors. This legislation has been signed into laws, and contains provisions that improve healthcare, housing, education, and memorial services. The bill also expands the accountability and transparency of the VA.

Veterans have given selflessly to our nation and I will continue working to improve the security and overall welfare of our veterans.

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF VETERANS LEGISLATION I HAVE SUPPORTED.