Protect Veterans' Benefits. Pass the Major Richard Star Act.
On November 9–10, VFW and VFW Auxiliary advocates will be on Capitol Hill fighting for veterans' earned benefits. Americans across the country can stand with them by sending a message directly to Congress.
Congress has two important decisions to make: protect future veterans from cuts to VA disability compensation and pass legislation to help combat-injured military retirees receive the full benefits they earned.
Tell Congress to vote NO on the Take Care of America's Veterans Act (TCAVA) and
YES to pass the stand-alone CLEAN Major Richard Star Act.
Stop Cuts to Veterans' Disability Benefits
The Take Care of America's Veterans Act (TCAVA) includes provisions that would help veterans. But Section 108 would change how VA rates certain disabilities, including tinnitus and sleep apnea, resulting in lower disability compensation for some future veterans.
These cuts would help pay for other provisions in the bill. But Section 108 goes further by putting changes to disability ratings into law instead of allowing VA to make those changes through its normal process. That would make the changes harder to reverse, even if new evidence shows they should be reconsidered.
It could also set a precedent for Congress to cut compensation for other service-connected disabilities in the future simply to save money.
Veterans who already receive compensation would be protected from reductions under this provision, but future veterans could receive less for the same disabilities.
The benefits of the other provisions do not outweigh the long-term consequences of Section 108. Congress should not improve benefits for some veterans by cutting benefits for others.
Pass the stand-alone CLEAN Major Richard Star Act
Under current law, some service members who are medically retired because of combat-related injuries cannot receive their full military retirement pay and VA disability compensation at the same time.
The stand-alone CLEAN Major Richard Star Act would change that, allowing eligible combat-injured military retirees to receive both benefits without having their retirement pay reduced.
These veterans should not have to give up one earned benefit to receive another.
Make Your Voice Heard
As Veterans Day approaches and the 119th Congress draws to a close, make sure your members of Congress know where you stand.
Tell your members of Congress to:
Vote NO on TCAVA because Section 108 would cut disability compensation for some future veterans, make those changes harder to reverse, and set a concerning precedent for future cuts.
Vote YES on the stand-alone CLEAN Major Richard Star Act to help combat-injured military retirees receive their full earned benefits.
Honor the Contract.
Send a message to your elected representatives here.