Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., makes remarks on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at a House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Legislative hearing in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

WASHINGTON — A dozen bills for sustaining and improving basic programs that help veterans obtain housing, jobs and wheelchair-accessible vehicles were presented at a hearing Wednesday of the House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee on economic opportunity.

Several bills aim to strengthen the safety net of services addressing homelessness, transportation needs and support for disabled veterans in job training programs.

They include efforts to speed up government reimbursements to companies that outfit vans for handicapped drivers and to make permanent some homelessness prevention programs to avoid appropriation delays by Congress.

“Veterans who have incurred a spinal cord injury or disorder experience the breadth of VA care and benefits in unique ways due to their injuries and illnesses. We welcome the chance to show how some of this legislation may impact our members,” said Julie Howell, associate legislative director of Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Several other veterans advocacy groups also offered feedback on legislation, some of it still in draft form, to help guide lawmakers in crafting bills for approval.

But Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., filling in as subcommittee chairman, warned that not all 12 bills will advance to a final vote in Congress.

“I come to each bill with an open mind and value insights provided by folks testifying here today,” said Barrett, who gaveled the two-hour hearing in place of Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., subcommittee chairman, who was unable to attend.

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans backed two pieces of legislation for ensuring homeless veterans are connected with services they need to stay off the streets.

The Veteran Housing Promise Act, still in draft form, would eliminate the need for Congress to reauthorize some housing assistance for veterans in critical need of help, including individuals with special needs and very low incomes.

When appropriations are delayed, there are longer waits for shelter beds and rental subsidies, according to the coalition.

Kathryn Monet, chief executive officer of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, makes remarks on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at a House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Legislative hearing in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

“There is not a lot of safety net out there now for catching these veterans,” said Kathryn Monet, chief executive officer of the coalition.

“The current patchwork of time-limited authorizations and funding caps poses significant challenges,” Monet said.

The coalition also endorsed the Improving Mental Health Care and Coordination for Homeless Veterans Act, led by Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif.

The bill would require the VA to assess veterans and provide referrals for housing and mental health services in a timely manner.

“One in 10 veterans experience homelessness after military service, and we owe it to them to make sure the system that supports them functions properly,” Valadao said.

Paralyzed Veterans of America expressed early support for the Warriors to Workforce Act, which would increase monthly housing allowances for eligible veterans in full-time apprenticeships.

“We believe the VA should do more to raise awareness of the non-traditional education paths available through the post-9/11 GI Bill,” Howell said.

Veterans currently using the post-9/11 GI bill receive housing assistance that decreases as they progress through two-year job-training programs, Howell said.

Jeremiah Workman, an assistant secretary at the Department of Labor, makes remarks on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at a House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Legislative hearing in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Jeremiah Workman, an assistant secretary at the Department of Labor, said that his agency supports the Warriors to Workforce Act.

He said the legislation reflects President Donald Trump’s executive order in April 2025 titled “Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future.”

The order directed federal investments in programs to prepare workers for trade jobs that are in high demand.

“In the executive order, the president set the goal of at least 1 million new active apprentices nationwide. This goal is closely aligned with current labor market demand,” Workman said.

The subcommittee also heard from Superior Van & Mobility — one of the nation’s largest providers of wheelchair-accessible vehicles for veterans. The company endorsed the CRUISE Act, which seeks to ease payment delays to dealers that make vans handicap accessible.

Barrett, a retired Army officer who is leading the bill, said individual VA hospitals currently are responsible for paying invoices, but some have fallen behind.

Late reimbursements financially strain small businesses that install wheelchair ramps, lifts and other equipment at their own cost before receiving payment, he said.

Sam Cook, the president of Superior Van & Mobility, said late payments put mobility businesses at risk.

Superior Van & Mobility is awaiting $2 million in past due invoices that are more than 30 days late.

“The root cause is not with the hardworking staff at any of the VA’s local offices. Instead, the challenges we are facing today are [with] a fundamentally broken VA system,” Cook said.

Qualifying veterans with severe disabilities are eligible for a VA grant of up to $26,000 every 10 years to purchase a van or car.

The VA’s Automobile Adaptive Equipment Program pays for the vehicle conversion.

But getting paid on time is essential, Cook said.

“Dealers are having to make the decision: Can I afford to do business with the VA?” Cook said. “At any given dealership, roughly 15 to 40% of their business is with the VA.”