Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, voted for the Ensuring Veterans’ Smooth Transition (EVEST) Act. This legislation would automatically enroll all eligible Veterans into Veterans Affairs (VA) health care services. The legislation passed the House with bipartisan support.
“When our Nation’s Veterans leave military service, re-adjusting to civilian life can be challenging. Enrolling in the VA benefits they have earned shouldn’t be another barrier,” said Congresswoman Bustos. “Today, I was proud to vote for the EVEST Act, to ensure each and every one of our Veterans can easily access health care and vital mental health services. This bill is a game-changer, in our continued work to ensure every Veteran has access to the benefits they’ve earned and deserve from the VA.”
The EVEST Act requires the VA to automatically enroll Veterans who are eligible for care into the VA health care system. This will take place upon the receipt of information from the Defense Manpower Data Center, of the Department of Defense, that proves eligibility for enrollment. Veterans not in need of VA health care would have the option to opt out of automatic benefits.