2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Restore Veteran Educational Benefits In
Cases Of Educational Institutions Engaging In Fraud. In April 2024,
Fitzpatrick voted for , according to Congressional Quarterly, "the bill,
as amended, that would permit the Veterans Affairs Department to restore
veteran educational benefits for certain assistance programs to eligible
students in cases where an educational institution is determined to have
engaged in specified fraudulent behaviors, resulting in the suspension
or termination of a program of study and preventing the student from
completing the course or program. It would require the offending
institutions to repay veteran educational benefits to the VA that were
obtained through their fraudulent behavior. It would require the VA to
disapprove such an educational institution from VA education benefit
eligibility until repayment is made. It would require the VA to
establish a process for determining repayment amounts, which must
include a notice to each offending institution. As an offset, the bill
would extend for 14 days the higher fees the VA currently charges
borrowers for its housing loan guarantees." The vote was on passage. The
House passed the bill by a vote of 406 to 6. [House Vote 161,
4/30/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 4/30/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1767]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Allow The VA To Restore Full Benefits Under
The Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program To Veterans Who Were
Unable To Complete A Course Or Program Due To Closure Or Disapproval Of
Such Program By The VA. In May 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Veterans Rapid Retraining
Assistance Program Restoration and Recovery Act of 2022, which would
"permit the Veterans Affairs Department to restore full benefits under
the Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program to a veteran who was
unable to complete a course or program because of the closure of an
educational institution or the disapproval of an educational program by
the VA or a state approving agency. It would make the bill's provisions
retroactively effective to the enactment of the March 2021 coronavirus
relief law (PL 117-2), which established the retraining assistance
program, and require the educational institution to repay the VA for
payments already made." The vote was on passage. The House passed the
bill by a vote of 401-17, thus the bill was sent to the President.
[House Vote 225,
5/18/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/18/22;
Congressional Actions, S.
4089]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require The VA To Issue A Certificate Of
Eligibility To Individuals Applying For A Restoration Of Their G.I. Bill
Education Benefits After Their Education Program Was Discontinued. In
May 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for
the Veterans Eligible to Transfer School (VETS) Credit Act, which would
"require the Veterans Affairs Department to issue a certificate of
eligibility, which would provide proof of benefit coverage to
educational institutions, to individuals applying for a restoration of
their G.I. Bill educational benefits after their educational program
closed or was discontinued. The bill would require an individual to
certify to the VA that they have transferred fewer than 12 credits from
the program. It would also strike a requirement that veterans who
transfer their educational benefits to dependents must designate a
period for which the transfer is effective." The vote was on passage.
The House passed the bill by a vote of 412-1, thus the bill was sent to
the Senate. [House Vote 203,
5/17/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/17/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
6604]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require The VA's Office Of Patient Of
Advocacy To Create A System That Permits Veterans To Electronically File
Complaints About The VA's Health Care Services. In May 2022, according
to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Patient Advocate
Tracker Act, which would "require the Veterans Affairs Department's
Office of Patient Advocacy to establish a system, within 18 months of
enactment, that allows veterans or their designees to electronically
file or view the status of a complaint about the delivery of health care
services through the VA." The vote was on passage. The House passed the
bill by a vote of 411-1, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House
Vote 202, 5/17/22;
Congressional Quarterly,
5/17/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
5754]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Update The VA's Payment System, Which Would
Allow For Electronic Fund Transfer Of Educational Assistance To A
Foreign Higher Education Institution. In May 2022, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for a bill that would "direct
the Veterans Affairs Department to update the department payment system
within 90 days of enactment to allow for electronic fund transfer of
educational assistance to a foreign higher education institution that
provides an approved educational course to an eligible recipient of the
assistance and does not have an employer identification number or an
account with a domestic bank." The vote was on passage. The House passed
the bill by a vote of 397-15, thus the bill was sent to the Senate.
[House Vote 205,
5/17/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/17/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7375]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Provide $97.5 Billion For Veterans Affairs
Medical Care, Including $13.2 Billion For Mental Healthcare. In March
2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the
second portion of the Fiscal 2022 Omnibus Appropriations, which would
provide "$97.5 billion for VA medical care, including $13.2 billion
for mental health care." The vote was on the motion to concur in the
Senate amendment with a House amendment. The bill was divided and this
vote was the second portion of the bill. The House concurred with the
Senate by a vote of 260-171. After resolving differences, the bill was
sent to the President and became law. [House Vote 66,
3/9/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/9/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
2471]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Increase The Maximum Allowable Housing
Payments By The Department Of Veterans' Affairs. In December 2023,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for "the bill,
as amended, that would increase the maximum allowable payments from the
Veterans Affairs Department to public and nonpublic entities that
provide housing and support services to veterans experiencing
homelessness. It would offset possible costs by delaying a scheduled
reduction in the fees paid by veterans for VA home loans." The vote was
on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 408 to 10, thus it
was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 695,
12/5/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/5/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
3848]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require The VA To Submit A Strategic Plan
On Improving Breast Imaging Services For Veterans And Conduct A
Tele-Screening Mammography Pilot Program For Veterans That Lack Access
To Such Services. In May 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted for the Making Advances in Mammography and Medical
Options for Veterans Act, which would "require the Veterans Affairs
Department to submit a strategic plan to Congress on improving breast
imaging services for veterans. It would require the VA to conduct a
telescreening mammography pilot program for veterans who cannot access
such services; upgrade all mammography services to use three-dimensional
digital breast tomosynthesis technology within two years; and conduct
studies on and update department policies to expand access to breast
cancer gene testing for veterans diagnosed with breast cancer, as well
as access to breast imaging services at VA facilities for veterans with
paralysis and other disabilities. It would require the VA inspector
general to submit a report to Congress on mammography services provided
by the VA. The bill would also require the VA to enter into a
partnership with at least one cancer center of the National Cancer
Institute in each veterans integrated service network to expand access
to high-quality cancer care for women veterans and to collaborate with
the Defense Department to submit a report to Congress on all current
research and health care collaborations between the departments on
treating veterans and active servicemembers who have breast cancer." The
vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 419-0, thus
the bill was sent to the President. [House Vote 227,
5/18/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/18/22;
Congressional Actions, S.
2533]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Allow The Veterans' Affairs Inspector
General To Subpoena Witnesses As Necessary Through May 31, 2025, With
Exceptions To Criminal Proceedings Or Current Federal Employees. In
May 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for
the Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act of 2021, which would "allow
the Veterans Affairs Department inspector general to subpoena witnesses
as necessary to perform the office's duties through May 31, 2025. It
would specify that the office is not permitted to subpoena witnesses as
part of a criminal proceeding or current federal employees." The vote
was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 404-6, thus the
bill was sent to the President. [House Vote 204,
5/17/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/17/22;
Congressional Actions, S.
2687]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require VA Medical Centers To Provide An
Appropriate Lactation Space For Veteran Mothers To Breastfeed. In May
2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the
Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act, which would "require each
Veterans Affairs Department medical center to contain a lactation space,
defined as a hygienic place other than a bathroom that is private,
accessible and easy to locate, and contains a chair and working
surface." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote
of 420-0, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 214,
5/18/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/18/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5738]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Authorize Approximately $3.4 Billion In FY
2022 To Veterans Affairs To Carry Out 12 Construction And Renovation
Projects For Certain Major Medical Facilities. In May 2022, according
to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Fiscal Year 2022
Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act, which would
"authorize approximately $3.4 billion in fiscal 2022 for the Veterans
Affairs Department to carry out 12 construction and renovation projects
for certain major medical facilities." The vote was on passage. The
House passed the bill by a vote of 402-2, thus the bill was sent to the
Senate. [House Vote 201,
5/17/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/17/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7500]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Create A Pilot Program Within The VA To
Expand Eligibility For A Work-Study Allowance To Part-Time Veteran
Students Pursuing Rehabilitation, Education Or Training Programs. In
May 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for
the Student Veteran Work Study Modernization Act, which would "create a
pilot program within the Veterans Affairs Department to expand
eligibility for a work-study allowance to certain part-time students who
are pursuing rehabilitation, education or training programs. It would
require the department to report to Congress, within 180 days of
enactment and annually thereafter, on veterans who participate in
work-study, including the number of participants and percentage of
participants who obtain a four-year degree." The vote was on passage.
The House passed the bill by a vote of 370-43, thus the bill was sent to
the Senate. [House Vote 206,
5/17/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/17/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
6376]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Establish The Veterans Economic Opportunity
And Transition Administration. In April 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for ,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "the bill, as amended, that would
establish within the Veterans Affairs Department the Veterans Economic
Opportunity and Transition Administration (VEOTA), which beginning in
fiscal 2025 would be responsible for managing readjustment benefits and
home loan guarantees. It also would establish an undersecretary for
Veterans and Economic Opportunity and Transition, and authorize the
creation of a commission to help advise the president for this new
position. It would require the VA, within 180 days of the bill's
enactment, to submit a report to Congress on the progress toward
establishing the new administration. It also would require the VA to
certify to Congress that the transition of providing services through
the VEOTA will not negatively affect the provision of services to
veterans. The bill also would extend for approximately six weeks,
through Dec. 27, 2031, the higher fees the VA currently charges
borrowers for its housing loan guarantees, as an offset for the cost of
implementing the bill's provisions." The vote was on passage. The House
passed the bill by a vote of 403 to 10. [House Vote 159,
4/30/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 4/30/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
3738]