VFW Action Corps Weekly

Advocates Urged to Keep Pressure on Congress to Remove Section 108: The fight over H.R. 9237, Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, is not over. The VFW supports expanding benefits for veterans, survivors and families, but not by reducing disability compensation for future veterans. Section 108 would change how certain tinnitus and sleep apnea claims are evaluated and use the resulting savings to help pay for other provisions in the bill. The organization stands firm on its position that veterans should not be asked to fund veterans’ benefits and, with the VFW Action Alert still live, advocates are encouraged to continue telling Congress to remove Section 108 and find another way to pay for this legislative package. Take action.

VFW Urges Senate Committee to Prioritize Military-to-Civilian Transition: Military and veteran organizations met with the Senate Committee on Armed Services to discuss priorities for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027. The VFW placed military-to-civilian transition at the forefront, urging Congress to retain provisions that would establish a senior DOD official responsible for transition policy and accountability, and codify the language of the TAP Promotion Act, which would ensure accredited representatives’ access to Transition Assistance Program classes to educate transitioning service members on VA benefits and pre-discharge VA claims. The VFW also spoke in support of efforts to standardize transition performance and outcome metrics across the military departments, strengthening DOD leadership, accountability and coordination to better prepare service members for civilian life.

VA Strengthens Informed Consent Transparency: VA has announced new informed consent requirements for psychotropic medications to increase transparency and help veterans make informed treatment decisions. Beginning in 2027, VA will require patient education and signed consent for concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions and for antidepressants prescribed to veterans under age 30. It will also be standardizing education and documenting discussions on medication risks, benefits, alternatives, side effects and safe discontinuation. While these are important changes, they are narrower than what is included in H.R.4837 / S.3314, Written Informed Consent Act. This legislation would not simply codify VA’s new policy. It would expand written informed consent requirements to veterans prescribed antipsychotics, stimulants, antidepressants, anxiolytics and narcotics, without limiting those protections to veterans under age 30 or to specific medication combinations. There is also a significant distinction between federal law and administrative policy. Enacting this legislation would establish these broader protections in law, rather than relying on an administrative policy that could later be changed. For these reasons, the VFW views VA’s enhanced informed consent requirements as progress toward the objective, not a substitute for legislation, and continues to strongly advocate for passage of the Written Informed Consent Act before Congress adjourns this year. Read more.

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced no identifications or burial updates this week.

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