Trump Signs Two Veteran Support Bills into Law

August 11, 2020

Two pieces of legislation signed by President Donald Trump over the weekend will provide help to veterans in the legal system and provide opportunities for disabled veterans to seek home renovation grants.

The Veteran Treatment Court Coordination Act directs the Department of Justice to develop and establish veterans treatment courts at the state, local and tribal levels, reports Military.com.

Instead of going to jail, Veterans who have committed nonviolent crimes may enter court-supervised medical treatment, and access veteran-centric services and benefits.

“With this new law, thousands more veterans across the country facing the criminal justice system will have an alternative to jail time, ensuring they get the treatment they need,” said Rep. Charlie Crist.

The other piece of legislation Trump signed expands on the Ryan Kules and Paul Benne Specially Adaptive Housing Act of 2019.

The new law expands services to blind veterans, raises the maximum funding veterans can receive from $83,000 to $98,000, and allows veterans to access grants up to six times over 10 years (currently at three).

Photo by AP/Charles Krupa

 

August 11, 2020

Recent News

Snap of the Week

Snap of the Week

Naval Academy plebes climb the Herndon Monument, a tradition symbolizing the successful completion of the midshipmen’s freshman year. The class of 2027 completed the climb in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 11 seconds. Navy photo by Stacy Godfrey

In Our Communities

In Our Communities

More than 74,000 residents of Whidbey Island, Washington could suffer long-term health impacts from the noise of jets stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, according to a University of Washington study, The Seattle Times reported. Researchers said the impact...

$2 Billion Aid Package Will Help Ukraine Build Its Own Weapons

$2 Billion Aid Package Will Help Ukraine Build Its Own Weapons

A new $2 billion aid package the State Department announced Thursday will help build a Ukraine Defense Enterprise Program, according to Defense News. The fund will help Ukraine buy weapons from other countries while “investing in Ukraine’s defense industrial base,...

NDAA Draft Asks for DOD Study on Privatizing Barracks

NDAA Draft Asks for DOD Study on Privatizing Barracks

The House Armed Services Committee’s draft National Defense Authorization Act indicates lawmakers may not be ready to privatize more barracks, as Military.com reported. “Members aren’t completely bought into privatizing all housing,” a senior Republican committee aide...

PAST STORIES