Press Releases

Rep. Luria Urges House to Pass The COVENANT Act

April 14, 2021 Press Release
H.R. 2368 will secure benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances while serving overseas

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Elaine Luria today spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives urging Congress to pass the Conceding Our Veterans’ Exposure Now and Necessitating Training (COVENANT) Act, landmark legislation securing benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances while serving overseas.

Issues:
Veterans

Congresswoman Elaine Luria Announces More Than $2.5 Million in FEMA Grants Awarded in Coastal Virginia

April 2, 2021 Press Release
Today, Congresswoman Elaine Luria announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) allocated $2,624,138 in federal COVID-19 relief grants to the City of Virginia Beach and Virginia Port Authority. These grants come from FEMA’s Disaster Fund, which received $45 billion from the CARES Act, which Congresswoman Elaine Luria voted for last year.

Rep. Luria Introduces Landmark Legislation For Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits, Other Toxins

April 1, 2021 Press Release
Congresswoman Elaine Luria today introduced legislation to secure benefits for military veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service in the Middle East, Southwest Asia, East Africa, and the Philippines. The Conceding Our Veterans’ Exposure Now and Necessitating Training (COVENANT) Act is the first bill addressing toxic exposure to include both a comprehensive list of overseas locations that would qualify a veteran for earned benefits, as well as a comprehensive list of presumptive illnesses contracted as a result of airborne exposure.

Rep. Luria’s Op-Ed in The Hill: “The U.S. Urgently Needs a Maritime-Focused National Defense Strategy”

March 31, 2021 Press Release
Today, Congresswoman Elaine Luria penned an op-ed for The Hill about the country’s urgent need for a maritime-focused National Defense Strategy. She also sent a letter asking the Biden Administration to develop a National Defense Strategy that acknowledges and prioritizes the maritime nature of the current strategic environment.

Rep. Luria Announces $5.7 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding for Eastern Shore Rural Health System

March 31, 2021 Press Release
ONANCOCK, VA — Congresswoman Elaine Luria today announced that Eastern Shore Rural Health System received $5,704,750 in funding as a result of the American Rescue Plan Act. The funding is part of a $10 billion effort within in the $1.9 trillion economic recovery package to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines and build vaccine confidence in hardest-hit and highest-risk communities.

Reps. Luria and Nehls Call for Policy Changes to Support Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma

March 30, 2021 Press Release
Yesterday, Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee Chair Elaine Luria (D-VA-02) and Ranking Member Troy Nehls (R-TX-22) were joined by House Committee on Veterans’Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA-41), Vice Chair Mike Levin (D-CA-49), Ranking Member Mike Bost (R-IL-12), Subcommittee on Health and Women Veterans Task Chair Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), and Chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chris Pappas (D-NH-1) in a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs calling for six important policy changes to support survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST).

Rep. Luria Presses Naval Leadership for Details on Military Training and Readiness Challenges During Oversight Hearing

March 24, 2021 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, House Armed Services Committee Vice Chair Elaine Luria participated in a Readiness Subcommittee on training mishaps in the Armed Forces to discuss how the military can mitigate risks and factors to reduce the likelihood of accidents.

Congresswoman Luria Puts Spotlight on VA Claims Backlog and C&P Exam Delays

March 23, 2021 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA) Subcommittee Chair Elaine Luria presided over an oversight hearing on the VA’s efforts to reduce the compensation and pension (C&P) exam backlog. These exams are often a deciding factor in determining whether VA will grant service-connected disability benefits to a veteran.

Congresswoman Luria Launches Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus

March 22, 2021 Press Release
Congresswoman Elaine Luria announced her creation of the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus, a bipartisan group of lawmakers focused on improving offshore wind technology, investing in the offshore wind workforce, and making the United States a clean energy leader.

Rep. Luria Votes to Protect Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare

March 19, 2021 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Elaine Luria today voted to protect Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare from automatic spending cuts. H.R. 1868, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 246-175, prevents across-the-board spending cuts under the Pay As You Go (PAYGO) Act of 2010.

Pages