Dear American Legion Family members and friends,
The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA) is really a $58 billion proposition.
If the legislation, which includes more than 60 veterans-related bills, does not get approved by Congress, veterans stand to lose up to $58 billion in programs, benefits and other matters.
Just like when we were in the military, this is a case of “Use it or lose it.” Let me explain.
The VA has proposed a rule which estimates say will result in somewhere between $19 billion and $58 billion being diverted from veteran benefits to the U.S. Treasury. The American Legion has objected to this rule change. Despite our best efforts, the VA has not withdrawn this proposed rule. That means if we don’t act, billions of dollars will go from supporting veterans to funding other causes.
The American Legion is among a coalition of 23 veteran organizations that wrote to the leaders of Congress, advocating to pass TCAVA and keep those tens of billions of dollars for veterans. (Read the letter here.)
Let me be clear. We are not trading veterans’ benefits. We are using up to $58 billion to help our brothers and sisters, rather than lose it. That’s it — use it or lose it.
And that is why The American Legion supports the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act. This legislation combines more than 60 bills, most of which The American Legion supports.
It expands suicide prevention.
It improves care for traumatic brain injuries.
It offers relief for combat-injured retirees through the Major Richard Star Act.
It gives real support for the family caregivers who hold our wounded together.
If the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act does not pass in its current form, none of these reforms will happen.
That is something The American Legion won’t stand for. And neither should you.
I recommend reviewing the facts about this legislation, understanding the Legion’s process and encouraging your members of Congress to support TCAVA. Visit this special web page for those resources and more.
Dan K. Wiley
National Commander
The American Legion
Author: National HQ
Published with permission. The American Legion is built on a promise from men and women who swore with their lives to defend and protect the United States through military service. The promise begins at enlistment, grows through training and discipline in the U.S. Armed Forces and continues after discharge, as veterans in service to community, state and nation.
CALL TO ACTION: This is a horrible bill and violates resolutions our membership approved to prevent this type of shenanigans. Let’s demand that the American Legion immediately drop its support for the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA) H.R. 9237.
The American Legion is a grassroots, member-driven organization whose policies are established through resolutions adopted by the National Executive Committee or the National Convention. Once adopted, a resolution becomes the organization’s official position and governing mandate unless it is amended or rescinded through the same established process.
Resolution 187 (2016) – Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation, Resolution 38 (2016) – Exempt VA Benefits & Services from Pay-Go Provision, Resolution 33 (2022) – Disability Rating Criteria, and Resolution 19 (2023) – Protection of Veterans’ Disability & Compensation demonstrate a consistent and unequivocal policy opposing any action that would reduce or weaken veterans’ disability compensation and benefits.
Taken together, these resolutions establish a clear and consistent mandate from the membership to protect, not diminish, veterans’ disability compensation and earned benefits. Consequently, support for TCAVA is difficult to reconcile with the official policy adopted by The American Legion’s membership.
When elected officers advocate for or support legislation that appears inconsistent with these adopted resolutions, they risk acting contrary to the expressed will of the membership they were “elected” to represent. Such actions raise serious questions regarding their adherence to their fiduciary duties of loyalty, care, and obedience, as well as their obligation to faithfully execute the organization’s established policies.
We must lobby The American Legion to drop its support of the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA)!
1. Don’t quit the Legion; if anything, hold off on paying your dues for 2027. You have until the end of December, but don’t quit – we need you!
2. Visit and support your local American Legion Post. This is a national problem, not a local one.
3. Demand that the American Legion withdraw its support for TCAVA. Send emails to Internal Affairs & Membership, Legislative, and our VA&R division at http://www.legion.org/contact
4. Avoid The American Legion’s Grassroots Action Center
5. Tell Congress you oppose Veterans’ Benefit Cuts at http://www.votervoice.net/VFW/home
6. Share, like, and repost social media posts that encourage the American Legion to “Drop support of TCAVA”
7. Use the hashtags shown below on your social media posts that encourage the American Legion to “Drop support of TCAVA”
#VeteranAdvocacy #veteranssupportingveterans #endthewoundedveterantax #HonorThePromise
Please provide the supporting delegates that give your voice power?
Thank you for the information.