WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), members of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, introduced the Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act. This legislation would make certain the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assists the family caregivers of veterans as they transition into the workforce or retirement after their caregiving responsibilities have ended.
“Family caregivers provide critical care to their veteran loved ones, and when their time as a caregiver concludes, it is often difficult for them to transition back to work or into retirement,” said Senator Hirono. “This legislation will help to ensure VA provides important resources to these caregivers when their services are no longer needed, including employment assistance, retirement planning, and bereavement counseling. I’m proud to introduce this bill in gratitude of the invaluable support that family caregivers provide to our country’s veterans.”
The Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act would require VA to provide certain support services to veteran caregivers to help them go back to school, reenter the workforce, or retire when their veteran family member or loved one no longer needs caregiving services. This support would include employment assistance, retirement planning, and bereavement counseling. This legislation would also require VA to study the barriers veteran caregivers face when reentering the workforce; allow reimbursement up to a certain amount for fees associated with maintaining professional certifications or re-licensure; grant access to existing employment assistance programs; and require a report on the feasibility of establishing a retirement plan or savings for veteran caregivers.
The full text of the legislation is available here.
As a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Senator Hirono has consistently worked to support veterans in Hawaii and across the country. Earlier this week, she introduced the VetPAC Act to enhance the efficiency and quality of health care services provided to American veterans. Last month, Senator Hirono also reintroduced the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2025, bicameral, bipartisan legislation that would speed up the visa process for children of Filipino World War II veterans. In January, Senator Hirono introduced the Veterans Member Business Loan Act. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation expands access to capital for veteran-owned small businesses by removing arbitrary lending caps imposed on credit union member business loans. In May 2024, Senator Hirono introduced the Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act, legislation to improve the affordability of health care services for Native Hawaiian veterans. Among other things, the bill would eliminate copays for Native Hawaiian veterans for care received through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and would enable Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems to seek direct reimbursement from VA for care provided to Native Hawaiian veterans.
###