House Debates and Passes Take Care of America's Veterans Act, Including Major Richard Star Act and Controversial Disability Rating Changes, Rejects Motion to Recommit
The House convened to consider H.R. 9237, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, a comprehensive package aiming to improve healthcare, benefits, and operations for veterans. The bill includes provisions such as the Major Richard Star Act, the Love Lives On Act, and the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act. A significant portion of the debate centered on the bill's funding mechanism, which involves codifying proposed changes to disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus, a point of contention among members and veteran advocacy groups.
This chamber-day is highly significant due to the passage of a major legislative package affecting millions of veterans, their families, and caregivers. The bill addresses long-standing priorities like concurrent receipt for combat-injured retirees and increased benefits for surviving spouses, while also introducing controversial changes to disability compensation criteria. The debate highlighted a fundamental disagreement over how to fund veteran benefits, with implications for future generations of servicemembers and the integrity of the VA disability rating system.
Take Care of America's Veterans Act
H.R. 9237Question before the chamber
Passage of H.R. 9237, as amended, to improve benefits for veterans and the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The case for
Proponents argued that H.R. 9237 is a comprehensive package that would be one of the most significant veteran packages in a decade, including over 60 bipartisan provisions. Key benefits highlighted were the Major Richard Star Act, ending the wounded veteran tax for combat-injured veterans, the Love Lives On Act, allowing surviving spouses to remarry without losing benefits, and the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act, increasing benefits for catastrophically disabled veterans and surviving spouses. They asserted that the bill's funding mechanism, which involves codifying VA's own proposed regulation changes for sleep apnea and tinnitus disability ratings, is based on modern medical science and ensures savings are reinvested in veterans rather than reverting to the Treasury. They emphasized that no current veteran's benefits would be reduced and that the bill has broad support from numerous veteran service organizations.
The case against
Opponents vehemently opposed H.R. 9237, characterizing it as the largest cut to veterans' benefits in the Nation's history. They argued that the bill interferes with the scientific process of determining disability ratings, overriding the expertise of VA medical professionals, and that the proposed changes to sleep apnea and tinnitus ratings would lead to cuts for future veterans and potentially current veterans seeking rating increases. They also criticized the bill for raising VA home loan refinancing fees and promoting the privatization of veteran healthcare. Opponents contended that the funding mechanism is unnecessary, highlighting that the majority has approved billions in other spending without offsets, and that veterans should not have to pay for other veterans' benefits. They cited opposition from major VSOs, labor unions, and professional associations.
Disposition
passed · recorded vote
The bill, as amended, passed the House of Representatives.
Amendments
- An amendment to change the offsets used in the bill, replacing reductions to VA home loan benefits and disability benefits for sleep apnea and tinnitus with unobligated, appropriated Department of Defense funding from the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." (Mr. DELUZIO) — failed [Yeas 210, Nays 211]
Who is affected
- Combat-injured veterans: Will receive both military retired pay and VA disability compensation, ending the 'wounded veteran tax' for those medically retired with less than 20 years of service.
- Surviving spouses of veterans: Will retain dependency and indemnity compensation and Survivor Benefit Plan annuities if they remarry at any age, and will receive increased DIC rates.
- Catastrophically disabled veterans: Will receive increased monthly aid and attendance allowance.
- Veterans with sleep apnea and tinnitus (future claims): Will be subject to revised disability rating schedules that may result in lower or non-compensable ratings, based on new criteria for symptom severity and treatment effectiveness.
- Veteran homeowners: Will face increased loan fees for VA-guaranteed housing loans, particularly for certain refinancing options.
- National Guard and Reserve members: Will have expanded eligibility for guaranteed housing loans after completing at least 14 days of active duty and entry-level training.
- Veterans in rural and highly rural areas: Will benefit from a pilot program to improve care coordination from critical access hospitals and affiliated clinics, and enhanced transportation grants.
- Caregivers of veterans: Will receive extended medical care coverage and employment assistance after a veteran's discharge from the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.
- Veterans and servicemembers experiencing military sexual trauma: Will benefit from improved claims processing, outreach, and communications from the VA, including specialized teams and enhanced contact information.
- Women veterans: Will have access to lactation spaces in VA medical centers and benefit from research into menopause, perimenopause, and mid-life women's health.
- Veterans with spinal cord injuries or disorders: Will receive annual preventative health evaluations and improved access to assistive technologies and specialized mental health residential treatment programs.
House Passes Take Care of America's Veterans Act
highThe House passed H.R. 9237, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, a comprehensive bill that includes over 60 bipartisan provisions aimed at improving veteran healthcare, benefits, and VA operations. The bill's passage followed extensive debate regarding its funding mechanism.
Motion to Recommit H.R. 9237 with Alternative Funding Rejected
highA motion to recommit H.R. 9237, offered by Mr. Deluzio, sought to replace the bill's proposed offsets (cuts to sleep apnea and tinnitus disability benefits, and increased VA home loan fees) with unobligated Department of Defense funds. This motion was rejected by a recorded vote of 210 yeas to 211 nays.
Controversial Disability Rating Changes for Sleep Apnea and Tinnitus Codified
highH.R. 9237 codifies proposed revisions to the VA's schedule for rating disabilities concerning sleep apnea and tinnitus. Proponents argued these changes align with modern medical science and free up funds for other veteran benefits, while opponents criticized them as benefit cuts for future veterans.
Major Richard Star Act Included, Ending Wounded Veteran Tax for Many
highThe bill includes the Major Richard Star Act, which would end the offset of military retirement pay for combat-injured veterans who are medically retired with less than 20 years of service, allowing them to receive both their retired pay and VA disability compensation up to a certain amount.
Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act Passed
mediumThe House suspended the rules and passed H.R. 5362, the Colonel Michael H. Boyce Department of Veterans Affairs Multispecialty Clinic, which also included the Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act. This provision mandates that VA medical centers provide hygienic, private lactation spaces for women veterans and the public.