United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2026
Take Care of America's Veterans Act This bill addresses veterans’ benefits, health care, counseling, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) personnel, VA infrastructure, and the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). The bill modifies various compensation programs for veterans, including by (1) allowing concurrent receipt of disability compensation and military retired pay for certain retirees with a combat-related disability, (2) extending entitlement for various benefits and services to remarried surviving spouses, (3) increasing the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation, and (4) establishing a supplemental monthly allowance for certain disabled veterans. The bill also addresses VA education and training benefits, including by (1) modifying which independent study programs are covered under veterans’ educational assistance benefits, (2) requiring Transition Assistance Program counseling to include a presentation about VA benefits, and (3) increasing the housing allowance rate for individuals pursuing apprenticeships. The bill revises health care provisions, including by (1) expanding support and assistance provided to family caregivers, (2) extending the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, and (3) expanding the scope of VA mental health research. Among other elements, the bill revises VA disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus; expands eligibility for a memorial headstone or marker for the spouse, surviving spouse, child, or dependent of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces; addresses the administration of the VCCP and codifies the eligibility standards; establishes a standardized screening process for priority or routine admission to certain mental health care programs; and addresses VA personnel, hiring, and infrastructure matters.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 2026
Florida Freeze Disaster Assistance Act of 2026 This bill provides $3.5 billion in emergency funding for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide block grants to certain states for losses of revenue, quality, or production of crops (including crops prevented from planting), trees, bushes, and vines as a consequence of a freeze or cold weather conditions. The bill specifies that the funding may only be made available for losses occurring in counties that received a disaster designation for freeze and related cold weather conditions issued by USDA on March 4, 2026. (This includes certain counties in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.) The bill requires the assistance provided by the bill to include compensation to producers for losses of multi-year crops. The funds provided by this bill must be made available upon the request of a state department of agriculture or other appropriate state agency.
![Official portrait of Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/117_rp_fl_12_bilirakis_gus_200.jpg)