Support is divided among veterans organizations over the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, a massive package of 62 bills that aims to increase benefits for seriously sick and injured veterans, their families and survivors. (Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act is pitting the nation’s largest veterans groups against one another over its proposal to pay for billions of dollars in new benefits for seriously ill and injured veterans by taking away future compensation from other disabled veterans.
The American Legion, Wounded Warrior Project and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation are among more than 20 veterans advocacy organizations that formed a coalition to support the legislative package of 62 bills. Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and other large veterans groups have announced their opposition.
“For the first time in a generation, the votes and resources line up to move dozens of long-stalled priorities together,” the American Legion said in a written statement. “Rather than letting the moment pass and having veterans go back to waiting indefinitely for single-issue bills to pass one by one, the American Legion is capitalizing on it.”
Supporters said that the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act , which is led by Republicans, represents the best opportunity for Congress to pass bills with bipartisan support, including the Major Richard Star Act and the Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic-Exposed Veterans Act, which have stalled for lack of a funding mechanism.
Opponents of the bundled legislation said they cannot endorse the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act because it would slash future benefits for service-connected sleep apnea and tinnitus, potentially affecting up to 1.5 million veterans.
In addition to the DAV and VFW, opponents include the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America and Swords to Plow Shares.
Regardless of their position on the legislative package, many of the veterans groups are nonprofits originally chartered by Congress and accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs to help veterans for free with their claims for benefits.
The opponents are backed by some Democratic lawmakers and labor groups that also object to provisions in the legislation for improving access to private-sector healthcare outside the VA.
“A grateful nation pays its debts to veterans. It does not send them the invoice,” VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore said.
The VFW recently launched a controversial publicity campaign on social media that shows veterans facing a firing squad of men dressed in suits, in protest of the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act.
The campaign was condemned by Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., a primary sponsor of the legislation and chairman of the House VA Committee.
Meanwhile, veterans groups that support the bill have offered individual endorsements, which Bost and Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., the Senate sponsor, are using to promote the package.
A vote in the House and Senate has not been scheduled.
“This legislation is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stand with the veterans, caregivers, and survivors who have sacrificed so much for our country,” said Steve Schwab, chief executive officer of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act speaks directly to needs that have gone unmet for far too long.”
