Senator Hassan’s Bipartisan Solid Start Act Signed into Law, Supporting Veterans During Their Transition to Civilian Life

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, on Monday, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan’s bipartisan legislation to strengthen the Solid Start program was signed into law. Working with her colleagues Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Senator Hassan’s Solid Start Act enshrines the program created under the previous administration, making it a matter of law that the VA contact every veteran three times by phone in the first year after they leave active duty service to check in and help connect them to VA programs and benefits. New Hampshire and national veterans leaders are applauding the new law.

See below for coverage from the Union Leader:

Union Leader: Hassan bill on contact with retiring vets becomes law

A bill that Sen. Maggie Hassan co-wrote to make permanent a program that links retiring vets with federal health care services became law Monday.

The Trump administration started the Solid Start program in December 2019 with the goal for the U.S. Veterans Administration to reach out to retiring vets by telephone at least three times within the first year they have left service.

Republican senators on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee joined with Hassan in pursuing this law which makes the program ongoing along with other improvements.

Hassan sought a provision to ensure that women veterans get from the VA information tailored to their specific health care needs.

Women veterans raised this concern with her during a roundtable last year, she said.

“This bipartisan bill becoming law is a win for veterans, and helps meet our commitment to ensuring that those who bravely served have the support that they have earned,” Hassan said in a statement.

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