Earlier this year it looked like a pair of bills aimed at helping veterans get the most of their benefits would move quickly through Congress before being signed into law, but now that may not be the case. As lawmakers work feverishly to avoid the fiscal cliff, the two pieces of legislation may be pushed aside in the last week of the year, according to Military Times.
The first of the two bills is HR 4057, which was designed to provide vets with more information on how to wisely use their GI Bill benefits. The measure would have also taken steps to eliminate the practice of schools recruiting veterans solely because of the GI Bill. The legislation was supposed to enhance an executive order made last year, but it's starting to look like Congress may have to wait until the New Year to reintroduce the bill
The other piece of legislation in question, S 3202, has more to do with veteran health and transition assistance. Most notably, it would create a list of troops who had been exposed to toxic fumes while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the publication. It would also offer transition assistance classes off base.
A pair of veteran benefits bills is not the only legislative issue that could impact the military. The fiscal cliff negotiations could have a serious impact on Pentagon funding, affecting everything from the size of the Armed Forces to programs offered by the Department of Defense.