House Vote on Veterans Legislation This Week

This week, the House of Representatives is set to vote on the Valuing America’s Veterans Act. This bill encompasses almost 60 individual bills, which includes several key bipartisan initiatives we’ve pushed for, particularly the Major Richard Starr Act. Unfortunately, it seems Republicans are taking a more partisan route with this bill and have raised concerning questions about their funding proposals.

To fund the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, the Republican strategy involves cutting benefits for disabled veterans. These cuts could be catastrophic for the millions of veterans currently eligible for disability benefits due to conditions like tinnitus and sleep apnea.

The reasoning behind the Republicans’ funding approach strikes many as both absurd and harsh. The costs associated with war also encompass the ongoing needs of our veterans. We’ve made a commitment to care for these individuals after their service, and it’s essential that our nation upholds that promise.

It’s frustrating to see Republican arguments against using certain funding mechanisms, known as offsets, applied inconsistently. For instance, last summer’s expansive tax bill, which cost $3.4 trillion, centered around tax cuts for the wealthy without considering any offsetting expenses. Yet now, Republicans claim that the only route forward for the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act lies in making unprecedented cuts to benefits for disabled veterans.

What’s particularly troubling is that these proposed cuts are not only opposed by Congressional Democrats but also faced backlash from various veterans service organizations and stakeholders. Recently, 46 Senate Democrats voiced their opposition to this offset through a letter directed to Veterans Affairs Secretary Collins. This is a clear indication that the Republican proposal lacks the necessary support to advance in the Senate.

While we don’t believe offsetting expenses is appropriate or needed, we’re ready to negotiate with our Republican counterparts to push meaningful bipartisan legislation. The Department of Defense currently has nearly $100 billion in unspent and unobligated funds from a law passed over a year ago. A small portion of these funds could effectively cover the essential human costs associated with the American Veterans Protection Act.

Interestingly, HR 1 also included a reduction in tax rates for the wealthiest Americans. If the top 0.1% of earners—those making over $25 million—were to revert their tax rate back to its previous level, it could provide enough funds for the American Veterans Act. Both ideas would likely resonate well with the public and help bridge divisive issues within the veteran community.

We aim to see the vital components of the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act become law, particularly the Major Richard Starr Act. However, we can’t accept the Republicans’ stringent “take it or leave it” mentality or the misleading notion that slashing veterans’ benefits is the only solution.

There are practical alternatives to fund this bill, and it’s crucial for Republican leaders to engage in meaningful discussions to find common ground. The longer they stick to a purely partisan approach, the less time there will be to develop feasible strategies to enact both the Major Richard Starr Act and other bipartisan goals.

The Veterans Affairs Committee used to exemplify bipartisan cooperation. We successfully worked together to pass the PACT Act, which represented a significant expansion of healthcare and benefits for veterans affected by toxic exposure without cutting benefits to others. If we embrace a similar bipartisan approach now, we have the potential to achieve something equally historic once again.

Veterans shouldn’t be left with empty promises; they deserve tangible results from a grateful nation. When the costs of war are tallied, it’s unacceptable for veterans to be handed the bill.