In Congress, James fights for improved oversight of the VA, stronger mental health care and suicide prevention programs, and enhanced survivor benefits to ensure our veterans and their families receive the support and respect they’ve earned.
Fight for improved oversight of the VA, stronger mental health care and suicide prevention programs, and enhanced survivor benefits for veterans and military families.
Occurrences
introduced the Veteran Technology Employment Success Act to strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) program
Evidence
Congressman James R. Walkinshaw joined a bipartisan, bicameral amicus brief challenging VA benefit eligibility rules that make it harder for more than a million veterans to access education benefits under the GI Bills.
Walkinshaw and Rep. James C. Moylan introduced the Streamline Upgrades for Veterans Act to help ensure veterans living with PTSD or traumatic brain injury receive timely consideration when seeking relief related to their military discharge.
Assessments
Walkinshaw has taken same-term federal action related to veterans' issues, including introducing a bipartisan bill aimed at reducing delays for veterans with PTSD or traumatic brain injury and joining a VA benefits-related amicus brief. These actions materially support the promise's themes of VA oversight and stronger support for veterans, especially mental-health-adjacent concerns. However, the evidence does not show enacted improvements to VA oversight, mental health care, suicide prevention programs, or survivor benefits, so the promised outcome has not been fully delivered.