(Washington D.C.) A comprehensive bill which will benefit millions of veterans was passed by the U.S. Senate around 3 a.m. Saturday morning, December 9, 2006 - the last day of the 109th Congress. It now goes to President Bush to be signed into law.

The legislation (S 3421) was sponsored by U.S. Senator Larry Craig, the outgoing Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and strongly supported by incoming chairman U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka and U.S. Representative Steve Boyer, outgoing Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans' Affairs and incoming Chairman Designee U.S. Representative Bob Filner.

"I am extremely pleased that we were able to finally get this done. There were some serious disagreements between members on a few issues, but everyone compromised a little. That's what it takes," said Senator Craig (R-Idaho). "This legislation improves nearly every program that impacts veterans."

The bill contains provisions of ASDV and TFVE Sponsored H.R. 3082 that will provide the USDVA with additional tools to help it contract with veteran and disabled veteran-owned small businesses including:

• 1) Mandatory goals for contracting participation in U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (USDVA) by Veteran and especially Service Disabled Veteran Businesses;
• 2) Sole Source and restricted competition requirements in USDVA Contracting for all Veteran Businesses;
• 3) Mandatory registration of Veteran Business eligibility for participation;
• 4) Business Succession to survivor owners and operators of Veteran Businesses wherein Veteran death is service disability;
• 5) Periodic performance reporting to the U.S. Congress Committees on Veterans' Affairs;
• 6) Veteran priority in all set aside considerations.

U.S. Representative Buyer, U.S. Representative Filner and U.S. Senators Akaka, Craig and James Talent are nominees as "Patriot Legislators" for the Association for Service Disabled Veterans "Capitol Hill Awards", Spring, 2007 ceremony.

Craig praised Representative Steve Buyer, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for playing a key role in passing the legislation.

"Chairman Buyer deserves praise for fighting for the things he felt strongly about, and for compromising where he could," Craig said. "I also commend Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), the Ranking Member of our committee and others for their hard work in making this legislation possible."