The United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. (Photo: U.S. Air Force/Jason Treffry)
The American Legion is supporting the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, a major legislative package that would bring more than 60 Veterans’ bills together, including the Major Richard Star Act which has garnered significant Legion support on its own.
The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act focuses on VA health care, disability benefits, survivor support, caregiver services, education assistance, claims processing, suicide prevention, traumatic brain injury research, VA staffing, and other services for Veterans and Military Families. It was introduced by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), who chair the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs. Along with the Major Richard Star Act, the bill packages the Veterans ACCESS Act, the Love Lives On Act, and the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act.
Inclusion of the Major Richard Star Act was a driving force in earning The American Legion’s support. If passed, it would allow certain combat-injured Veterans who were medically retired before reaching 20 years of service to receive both their full military retirement pay and VA disability compensation.
The Legion’s support comes after years of frustration over stalled Veterans legislation. The Major Richard Star Act was first introduced in 2020 and has gained strong bipartisan support, but has still not passed Congress largely due to budget considerations. The Legion noted traditional efforts have not been enough to get the bill across the finish line, even under both Democratic and Republican majorities.
American Legion National Commander Dan K. Wiley said the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act finally gives Congress a viable path to pass the Major Richard Star Act and dozens of other Veterans’ priorities.
The larger package also includes proposals to expand suicide prevention programs, improve traumatic brain injury research and treatment, strengthen caregiver support, improve claims and appeals, support adaptive prosthetics, expand education and transition assistance, and help VA recruit and retain medical professionals.
The most debated part of the bill is how it would be funded. The legislation would codify future changes to VA disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus. According to reports, those changes would only apply to future claims and would not alter or reduce current ratings.
The American Legion recognized concerns about the offset, but said VA had already signaled plans to finalize similar rating changes. The Legion argues that if those changes are likely to move forward anyway, Congress should make sure the projected savings are used for Veterans programs instead of other federal priorities.
“We acknowledge and recognize concerns regarding the proposed offset—legislating changes to the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) for future, not currently awarded, Veterans who claim service-connected sleep apnea and tinnitus, mirroring regulations VA independently published in 2022. Despite opposition from the veteran community, VA has signaled its intent to finalize these regulations through the rulemaking process and public comments, including congressional testimony. After years of discussion on the necessity of updating the VASRD, spanning different political administrations, and after thorough review of existing medical evidence and a public comment period, we do not believe VA will rescind the regulations if and when they are finalized.
The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act still faces opposition over its funding structure. The VFW has said it supports many parts of the package, but opposes paying for them through future disability rating changes for sleep apnea and tinnitus. DAV has also criticized the offset, calling it a “poison pill” inside a larger bill that includes several proposals the organization otherwise supports.
Despite concerns, Wiley believes the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act remains the strongest path forward to move years of advocacy into action.
“Critics may focus on trade-offs, but the alternative is continued gridlock on major reforms in an increasingly challenging budgetary and political environment,” Wiley said. “Therefore, we urge Congress to pass the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act and finally deliver results for Veterans and families who have been waiting too long already.”
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted family connection to the military, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
