Committee Republicans voted against a presumption of service connection for blast overpressure. Blast exposures are not a matter of happenstance during a servicemember’s enlistment; they are an occupational requirement critical to the operational readiness of our military.

Homeless veterans are not hopeless- they deserve safe, accessible places to live. During Wednesday's oversight hearing on the National Center for Warrior Independence, RM @repmarktakano.bsky.social made it clear we have to build communities to meet veterans’ needs.

Mr. Zenner from the LA County Dept. of Military & Veteran Affairs shared his vision to improve conditions for vets at the National Soldiers' Home. His ask: an on-site Veterans Treatment Court, more housing options, & the elimination of jurisdictional security gaps that are holding the campus back.

Today, House Republicans continued their attempts to privatize VA. Siphoning off resources from VA and sending veterans into a system unprepared to meet their needs is wrong, and can lead to worse outcomes. 🔗: democrats-veterans.house.gov/news/press-r...

STARTING SOON: 16 bills will be considered at today’s committee markup. Two of them, led by Committee Democrats, would improve veterans' access to life-saving medication and prevent fraudsters from taking advantage of veterans’ earned benefits. Watch live: youtube.com/live/ECCGpL7...

Caring for veterans means ensuring all veterans have a place to call home. @repdexteror.bsky.social's Every Veteran Housed Act allows veterans with other than honorable discharges get the housing benefits and supportive services they deserve.

As we celebrate National Police Week, we must recognize the unique & essential role VA police officers play in VA's mission. With 90% of these officers being veterans themselves, we thank them for their dedicated service to their country and to their fellow veterans in their times of need.

"Frankly, I think it's going to lead to worse outcomes for the most vulnerable of our veterans." - @ramirez.house.gov Forcing veterans into guardianships isn't the solution. We must instead ensure veterans have access to the treatment, housing, and services they deserve.

All "planning" for West LA VA has been done behind closed doors; veterans and the community weren't allowed to weigh in, and individuals working on the West LA project were required to sign NDAs. This VA is set on keeping information from the public. That's because they don't have a plan.

Conditions at West LA are unacceptable, and frankly, dangerous. Veterans’ lives are at real risk. We must address the root causes of the problems at West LA, or we will fail the thousands of veterans who should be able to call the National Soldiers’ Home their home.

STARTING SOON: At 10:15 AM, the committee will conduct an oversight hearing entitled, "Expanding the Mission: The Future of the National Center for Warrior Independence in West LA". To watch RM @repmarktakano.bsky.social deliver his opening remarks: www.youtube.com/watch?v=byiX...

Veterans are paying more at the gas pump while President Trump renegotiates the Strait of Hormuz deal with Iran. Trump forced us into a war of choice, and now he's prolonging the conflict instead of making life more affordable for veterans and everyday Americans.

This week, the House Veterans' Affairs Committee has a few items on the agenda. 👉 Take a look at our week ahead in session: democrats-veterans.house.gov/events

Claim sharks are ripping off veterans under the guise of helping them access their earned benefits, and are now using robocallers to do it. It’s outrageous, and I’ve been leading the fight to put a stop to it. Read about my legislation to do just that. ⬇️ www.npr.org/2026/05/04/n...

During Public Service Recognition Week, VA should focus on uplifting its workforce. Instead, VA has been attacking its own employees. Some who attended vigils for Alex Pretti, a VA staffer who was killed by CBP agents working with ICE, are facing internal investigations intended to silence them.

Veterans want President Trump to prioritize improving access to healthcare and lowering the cost of living, not organizing a UFC match in his own backyard. @usatoday.com: www.usatoday.com/picture-gall...

Secretary Collins claims wait times are down, but a recent study from @vetvoicefoundation.bsky.social shows the opposite across 21 VA medical centers. 71% had increased wait times. Listen to the full @npr.org report here: www.npr.org/transcripts/...

Veterans want VA care, but rural vets are facing higher gas prices, making it harder for them to access their earned care. Closing VA facilities & the growing affordability crisis make things worse. Sec. Collins is cutting vets off from their VA care. Protect vets' VA access! 🔗 tinyurl.com/3pxprdue

After an investigation into a Florida claim-shark company, @repchrispappas.bsky.social is pushing for more protections against auto-dialer scams that cost veterans up to $20,000. Bad actors shouldn't stand in the way of veterans and the benefits they earned. Read more here: tinyurl.com/mpw64up4

Servicemembers, House Veterans' Affairs Committee Dems want to thank you for your dedication and sacrifices. Your commitment to our nation does not go unnoticed. We are eternally grateful and will continue to work to ensure you receive the support and benefits you earned.

Since Trump's Big Ugly Law passed in July of 2025, 3.4 million Americans, including veterans, have been kicked off of SNAP. As grocery prices continue to rise, veterans need these benefits more than ever. Trump isn't making life more affordable for veterans or their families. He's hurting them

"Not being able to afford your rent should not be a one-way ticket to a forced labor camp." - Eric Tars with @homelesslaw.bsky.social

On Workers' Memorial Day, we honor those killed & injured by their work & thank those who fight for better working conditions. Bargaining rights are a critical part of a safe work environment, but Trump's admin eliminated these rights for most VA employees. When you hurt VA employees, you hurt vets.

Ending veteran homelessness requires resources, consistent check-ins, and a system that genuinely invests in the veteran's success. Ben's story captures that journey and shows how he ultimately got back on his feet. Hear his story: youtu.be/xtkwFNmQuUc?...

Placing veterans in guardianships as a policy response to a housing challenge makes it far less likely that veterans will come to seek care. Guardianships are extremely difficult to get out of, as Eric points out; it took Britney Spears 7 years to get out of hers. How long will it take a veteran?

Veterans and their survivors deserve better. Under President Trump, VA has stonewalled Congress, no answers, no transparency, just deliberate obstruction. How can veterans trust an agency that hides the truth from everyone?

The best way to learn how to serve future generations of veterans is to listen to veterans themselves. Before our Roundtable discussion last week, we asked Ben Jeffrey, a veteran who experienced homelessness firsthand, to answer one question for us. Here's what he had to say.

Veterans have made it clear that they don't want this guardianship program, and we stand with them. Guardianship would strip veterans of their autonomy, taking away their right to decide when and how they receive care. Veterans did not fight for our freedom only to have their own taken away.

Couldn't agree more, @deluzio.house.gov. VA shouldn't be dismantled, it should be strengthened. Privatization just shifts costs onto veterans and risks access to care. When every dollar counts for groceries, gas, & daily necessities, veterans can't afford more expenses. Veterans deserve better.

This week, House Democrats hosted a roundtable discussion on veteran homelessness. Before the Roundtable began, we asked our participants to answer one question: If you could ask Secretary Collins and Secretary Turner to do one thing to help end veteran homelessness, what would it be and why?

"Cut, after cut, after cut, with no analysis of how veteran care and benefits will be affected." - @ramirez.house.gov

Surviving military spouses shouldn't face penalties for remarrying after loss. They and their families cannot wait any longer; Congress must pass the Love Lives on Act NOW.

Veteran Ben Jeffrey shared his journey facing homelessness and now dedicates his life to lifting others out of homelessness. He set the scene for our discussion. Hear his full story here: youtu.be/xtkwFNmQuUc?...

This weekend, Trump signed an Executive Order granting veterans access to certain psychedelic drugs to treat mental health conditions. Veterans are relying on VA to ensure it has enough staff and trains providers to meet this increased demand if these treatments are approved.

When VA's communications seem more misleading than ever, a new tool is available to help you look at the data yourself. @commondefense.bsky.social has launched a website that lets you see your Congressional district's VA wait times and healthcare staffing shortages. Check it out: vhadata.org

"You can't support the veteran while undermining the worker that helps them. Their dignity is inseparable." - Craig Romanovich @aflcio.org House Democrats will always stand with VA employees.

"I'm tired of hearing 'thank you for your service' from the same people who vote to underfund the VA and bomb another country... take care of the troops you send, all the way home." - Naveed Shah @commondefense.bsky.social

STARTING AT 1:15 PM, the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance & Memorial Affairs will conduct an Oversight hearing entitled, “Examining VA Benefits: Pension & Fiduciary, & VA Life Insurance Options”. To watch RM @repmcgarvey.bsky.social deliver his opening remarks: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeWv...

Veterans turn to the Veterans Readiness and Employment program when they're trying to rebuild their futures. They want stability and independence. They shouldn't face additional delays in achieving the future they dream of. We must improve and streamline the VR&E program today.

Veterans need, want, and deserve timely decisions on their claims. Speed should not be the goal; accuracy and delivering benefits should be the main focus. We must NEVER sacrifice the quality of care or service for the speed of delivery.

Would you trust a physician who cites Google or an AI tool? VA employees who are being pushed to make decisions faster are relying on Google and WebMD to justify their claims decisions and are citing those “sources” in the letters they send to veterans.

"The Trump administration has frequently said that appointment wait times at [VA] are improving despite widespread reductions to its workforce, but internal data reveal a varied picture of how long patients are waiting for health care..." Via Gov Exec: tinyurl.com/yetf9es2

Veterans' disability claim denial rates are up, and the data we received from VA this month shows that. We should never sacrifice the type of care we provide veterans, especially when examining their paperwork to decide their disability benefits. See the numbers for yourself.

VA police officers play an essential role in VA's mission by not just protecting facilities, but supporting veterans in their darkest moments. Many of these officers are veterans themselves, serving this nation in a new capacity. We should protect our VA workforce and pass H.R. 8010.

For veterans' safety, it's imperative that VA never use AI as the final review tool for veterans' benefits. VA swore under oath today that a human will always complete the final review of a veteran's disability claim. We'll hold them to it.

Collective bargaining rights for workers are essential, and @ramirez.house.gov made it clear during today’s markup that she will not stop fighting for all VA employees to have that right again.

STARTING at 2:15 PM: the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a markup on 8 pieces of legislation. To listen to RM @ramirez.house.gov's thoughts on the legislation being discussed today: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfXD...

We need a clear understanding of what is actually happening in claims processing. Not just how quickly decisions are issued, but whether those decisions are accurate, durable, and fair to the veterans who depend on them.

When VA makes a mistake with a veteran's claim, that claim enters the appeals process, shifting the timeline for a veteran waiting on healthcare from months to years. A mistake costs a veteran time and, potentially, their health.