On Monday, the House passed a bill that would expand support for veterans, improve health services and create more opportunities for military retirees in education and the workforce.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where its prospects remain uncertain due to the Democratic majority and divergent views on the proposed reforms.

The legislation, known as Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s 21st Century Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act, received overwhelming bipartisan approval, passing by a vote of 389-9. Many sections of this bill have already been introduced in Congress, such as the similarly named Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act, but are now consolidated into this single, comprehensive bill.

The bill is a significant victory for Republicans, who have raised concerns about the Department of Veterans Affairs and advocated for increased access to home care for veterans.

The bill is named after former Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina and remains a top priority for veterans advocacy groups. It is seen as a solution to a series of long-standing challenges facing veterans, with sections covering everything from access to health care to housing.

All members of the Alabama Representatives voted for the Dole Act. Rep. Barry Moore, AL-02, released a statement following his vote.

“As a proud veteran, I am pleased to support this long-awaited bill. It reaffirms our commitment to honor and care for our veterans and their families by ensuring they receive the support they deserve,” Moore said. “This bill modernizes our approach to health care for veterans, making help more accessible and paving the way for a future in which no veteran feels forgotten.”

Key measures include initiatives to improve veteran housing, including special housing projects for Native American veterans on tribal lands and grants for transitional housing for all veterans.

The Dole Act prioritizes mental health services, expanding access to alternative care options outside of traditional nursing homes, funding home health services, covering ambulance transportation to VA facilities and increasing support for veterans in need of caregivers.

The bill would also allocate $5 million for FY 2025 to the Office of Women’s Health to improve women veterans’ access to mobile mammography services and advanced mammography equipment.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions to improve educational opportunities for veterans, such as expanding scholarships and modernizing educational assistance tools, aimed at helping veterans retired military personnel to succeed in life after their service.