WASHINGTON — House lawmakers on Monday advanced plans to create a new branch of Veterans Affairs operations focused on economic opportunity, a move that advocates say could better highlight employment and education programs at the department.
Veterans advocates have pushed for the new economic opportunity administration in recent months amid concerns that the benefits administration is too overwhelmed with disability compensation and pension claims to focus on education programs, post-military jobs efforts and a host of other resources.
The new agency would be stood up beside the department’s three existing administrations — the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration and the National Cemetery Administration — and lead by an under secretary “charged with administering the many benefits available to veterans beyond disability claims and pensions.”