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Allred, DeFazio, Walden, Radewagen Introduce Congressional VA Work-Study Legislation

July 15, 2020

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Colin Allred (TX-32) helped introduce bipartisan legislation by Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04) to re-authorize a successful Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) work-study program in congressional offices. The bill allows veterans to assist their fellow veterans with accessing the benefits and services they've earned. Republican Reps. Greg Walden (OR-02) and Aumua Amata Radewagen (AS-At Large) also helped introduce the bill as original cosponsors.

"Our veterans deserve every opportunity to continue serving our nation, and their fellow veterans. We must always work to ensure our veterans have access to job training and work study programs that can help them succeed," said Rep. Allred, a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. "Veterans often have to navigate so much to ensure they get the benefits they are owed, and I know North Texans would welcome more helping hands at the local level. I thank my colleagues for their bipartisan work on this bill."

"I cannot think of a more appropriate way to simultaneously serve our constituents and to honor our nation's veterans than by bringing this work-study program back to congressional offices so veterans can help their fellow veterans access the benefits and services they deserve and earned," said Rep. DeFazio. "This legislation ensures that every dollar spent on the program improves our efforts to help our nation's veterans. I'm hopeful that this legislation will cut through pointless government bureaucracy to revive this successful program."

"Our veterans deserve to receive the benefits and services they earned," said Rep. Walden. "This legislation helps provide veterans access to job training and work study programs—both which play critical roles in veterans' transition to civilian life. I am glad to sponsor this bill that will deliver for so many veterans in Oregon and across the nation and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill passed and to the President's desk!"

"Veterans are a great source of knowledge, leadership and dependability," said Rep. Aumua Amata Radewagen. "This bill encourages the practice of having Veterans as a constant resource in our constituent services. Thank you to Reps. DeFazio, Walden and Allred for their leadership on this important effort."

Since the 1980s, congressional offices were eligible to participate in a VA work-study program that allowed student veterans the opportunity to develop valuable job skills while assisting their fellow veterans in navigating the VA's bureaucracy. However, after 25 years of successful program operation, the VA suddenly ended work-study eligibility for congressional offices in 2009.

This legislation would reauthorize the program, specifically permitting VA congressional work-study students to perform outreach services to service members, veterans and their dependents, as well as assist with efforts to secure earned benefits.