WASHINGTON – Minnesota Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Walz played a key role in pushing the largest expansion to veterans' education benefits in a decade — a measure that President Trump is expected to sign after lawmakers recently pulled together in a rare bit of unity.
Walz is hoping the passage of the "Forever GI" bill is a lesson that getting something done in Congress requires building a coalition of broad, bipartisan support.
"Otherwise, [such efforts] just become messaging," he said.
Amid polarizing debates over health care and the budget, the House and Senate approved a revamped GI bill that would allow veterans to go to college at any time in their lives, instead of losing the option after 15 years. The measure has won widespread praise from veterans organizations after nearly collapsing in the spring.
But Walz, the ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, cautions that lawmakers will have to address more controversial veterans' health care issues when they return from break in September. Lawmakers approved emergency funding to the Veterans Choice Program last month, and they must agree on a longer-term solution that will raise larger issues of privatization that have dominated Republicans' agenda in Washington.
The program allows veterans to see private doctors on the government's dime, but it was on the verge of running out of money as patient visits skyrocketed. The new six-month extension buys lawmakers more time to debate improvements to the multibillion-dollar program.
Concerned Veterans for America has already launched ads criticizing Walz for initially voting against the extension of the stopgap funding in July, among other votes. The conservative organization says it's targeting Walz because he is a critical member of the committee.
"He will play a role in the future discussion around reforming community care and the choice program for the VA," said Dan Caldwell, the organization's director of policy. "We think it's important to highlight his votes to send a message not just to him but to other members on the committee that we are going to point out when you do the wrong thing."