"Pitting veterans against veterans is the worst kind of betrayal. We shouldn’t have to tear critical benefits away from our nation’s heroes to fund programs for others–especially not when the Pentagon has a $1.5 TRILLION budget and seemingly endless cash for Trump’s war in Iran." - Rep. Pat Ryan

Could repeated calls to nationalize elections & baseless allegations of mass voter fraud damage how people engage in the electoral process? IAVA's CEO, Ky Hunter, thinks so; catch her take from last week's HVAC Democrats Roundtable on civic engagement & elections.

STARTING SOON: The Subcommittee on Disability Assistance & Memorial Affairs will conduct a markup, then immediately after, will conduct an Oversight Hearing entitled "Memorializing our Veterans: Outreach, Upkeep, & Community Partnerships at Veterans Cemeteries". 📺: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9esE...

"This bill should be called the ‘America’s Veterans Beware Act. If we are to keep our promise to take care of those who have served us, we cannot turn our backs on them, and we cannot weaken the system designed to care for them." - AFGE National President Everett Kelley.

"We should never ask our servicemembers to choose between serving their country and exercising their civic duty. RM @repmarktakano.bsky.social commends SCOTUS for protecting the sacred right for thousands of servicemembers, military families, & veterans who depend on mail-in ballots to vote.

Starting at 10:15 AM, the Subcommittee on Health will conduct a legislative hearing on 15 bills. To hear RM @juliabrownley.house.gov's opening remarks: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJXM...

Today, the House will consider Rep. Bilirakis's amendment to add the Major Richard Star Act to the NDAA. We stand behind his effort—combat-injured veterans cannot wait any longer, and we must get this done without cutting veterans' benefits.

Veterans who honorably served our country and military servicemembers will soon be told they can't vote, because the SAVE America Act would require them to provide a passport or birth certificate rather than their military ID to register.

The vote for the Take Benefits from America's Veterans Act may have been cancelled last week, but the fight is not over. Democrats are determined to ensure veterans receive fair compensation for their service, but we refuse to rob Peter to pay Paul. Veterans earned their benefits; oppose this bill.

Thank you. @fernandez.house.gov, we agree that the way that House Republicans want to pay for their Taking Benefits from America's Veterans Act is outrageous. These are not gifts; these are combat-injured veterans' earned benefits that are being taken away.

The Union Veterans Council took the words right out of RM @repmarktakano.bsky.social's mouth: "The Major Richard Star Act should be passed as clean, standalone legislation."

Republicans are feeling the pressure- veterans do not want their benefits cut. Veterans, keep making your voices heard and remind your members you want them to pass the clean Major Richard Star Act.

Actions speak louder than words, Mr. Chairman, and it's clear you don't want to deliver on the Major Richard Star Act. It's time for you to sign the Major Richard Star Act discharge petition and deliver the real results our nation's combat-injured veterans want.

STARTING SOON: at 3:15 PM, the Subcommittee on Disability and Memorial Affairs will conduct a legislative hearing on 6 bills. To hear RM @repmcgarvey.bsky.social's opening remarks: youtube.com/live/P9SS59L...

Today, I led 45 of my Democratic colleagues in opposing Republican’s plan to slash disabled veterans’ benefits. We stand with veterans in the fight against these harmful cuts & call on VA Secretary Collins to join us.

Let's break down the Taking Benefits from America's Veterans Act. - It cuts more than $20 billion in disability compensation for future veterans with tinnitus and sleep apnea. - More than 1.5 million future veterans and servicemembers would be at risk of reduced benefits.

During yesterday's Rule debate, RM @repmcgovern.bsky.social made this point in response to the GOP's talking points: "When it comes to other things nobody wants, no one cares about an offset. But when it comes to veterans, we are insisting on an offset. I just find that a little bit puzzling."

The Talking Benefits from America's Veterans Act is built on: - benefit cuts, - higher housing costs for veterans, - and a push for privatization of VA. RM @repmarktakano.bsky.social rejects this bill.

In the Majority's Taking Benefits from America's Veterans Act, they proposed cuts to veterans' benefits instead of charging the DoD. We should not be picking the pockets of the men and women who served. We must honor our promise and take care of our nation's veterans.

This bill is the "Taking Benefits from America's Veterans Act". DoD should be paying for this bill, but instead Republicans are siphoning money from veterans to pay for the watered-down Major Richard Star Act.

Veterans are telling us they don't want this cut. VFW, DAV, IAVA, and many others have opposed this Republican bill. And we reject it too. We cannot accept funding a bill by taking benefits away from our nation's veterans.

The Major Richard Star Act Discharge Petition has 213 signatures. This is a clear path to real results for combat-injured veterans. Check who is missing ⤵️ clerk.house.gov/DischargePet...

Kayla Williams, the Senior Policy Advisor for @votevets.org, is right. This Republican-led "Taking Benefits from America's Veterans Act will "pit groups of disabled veterans against one another and steal from future generations of veterans..." Congress must pass the clean Major Richard Star Act.

🚨Veterans, we hear you loud and clear: WE MUST PASS THE MAJOR RICHARD STAR ACT.

AFGE is completely right, “While the bill package suggests it would improve veterans’ health care and benefits, it would in fact do the opposite.” This new legislation is clearly an attempt to derail the Major Richard Star Act.

Vets living at the National Soldiers' Home are not receiving the supportive services they need, leading to uninhabitable & dangerous conditions. Sec. Collins should prioritize hiring more social workers, nurses, & physicians; otherwise, conditions in West LA will only get worse for these vets.

Veterans don't want a watered-down piece of legislation. They want the benefits they are owed, full stop.

Veterans disability bill could cut tinnitus compensation to fund other benefits trib.al/mT6xE4X

The Republican proposed veterans' package is a step in the wrong direction, and as IAVA CEO Dr. Kyleanne Hunter puts it, “we should never indicate to one set of veterans that their service is worth less than any other.” Fairness for combat-injured veterans shouldn’t be stalled by partisan politics.

VA needs to show veterans and Congress: - A strategic, holistic plan - A streamlined, standardized appointment scheduling process - IT architecture that can support proper implementation

We are thrilled to welcome our newest committee member, @goodlander.house.gov! She proudly served as an intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve for over a decade, and we are looking forward to having her expertise on our committee.

We couldn’t agree more with DAV: "a grateful nation should never try to balance its budget on the backs of the men and women who sacrificed so much for our freedom." Combat-injured veterans have pushed for the Major Richard Star Act for years. They deserve real benefits, not feigned promises.

Last week, I went to Lansing, Michigan with @democrats-veterans.house.gov for a field hearing. For rural veterans, the difference between an internal VA appointment and a community care option can mean hours of travel.

VA’s patient scheduling has been a pain point for decades. While EPS is a step in the right direction, it just isn't ready. There are more than 1 million community care providers, yet VA only has about 25,000 using EPS—a measly 2%.

As VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore said, “Congress should Honor the Contract and strengthen veterans' programs without creating new costs for those who sacrifice in service to our country.”

On Women Veterans Recognition Day, and every day, we honor the 2 million women who have proudly and courageously served our nation. As the fastest-growing group of veterans, we must protect their access to care and ensure VA remains a welcoming place for all women veterans.

STARTING NOW: the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization will hold an Oversight Field Hearing at the Grand Ledge Army Aviation Facility, MI, entitled "Delivering Quality and Modern Healthcare to Michigan's Veterans and Servicemembers." 📺 To watch live: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ5L...

House and Senate Republicans had no plans to pass the Major Richard Star Act. With the discharge petition—330 cosponsors in the House, the veterans community's top priority—just 5 signatures from forcing a vote. Republicans introduced this package to distract and delay benefits for combat veterans.

RM @repmarktakano.bsky.social's discharge petition is five signatures away from forcing a clean vote on the Major Richard Star Act in the House. To prevent that from happening, Republicans introduced a new package to distract and delay a vote on the overdue benefits for combat veterans.

We only need 5 more Members of Congress to join us on the Major Richard Star Act Discharge Petition. The time to act is now; our combat-injured veterans cannot wait any longer. Has your Member signed on? ✍️ No? Give them a call ☎️ 🔗 Discharge Petition: clerk.house.gov/DischargePet...

What's happening to our nation's combat-injured veterans is a gross injustice. Their retirement and disability benefits are theirs, and we are fighting to eliminate the wounded warrior tax. We stand with @repchrispappas.bsky.social—we will not give up until they receive their full benefits.

Veterans who served at Area 51 have been fighting for too long to receive their benefits. Each day, the number of fallen vets in this community grows. RM @repmarktakano.bsky.social hosted a roundtable with the Nevada delegation, Area 51 veterans & downwinders about the challenges they're facing.

Members of the House, please sign the discharge petition to bring the Major Richard Star Act to the floor for a vote. Our nation’s veterans who were medically retired due to combat injuries answered the call to serve. They fulfilled every obligation asked of them, and now Congress must fulfill ours.

"A grateful nation should never try to balance its budget on the backs of the men and women who served this nation in service and sacrifice." - Jon Retzer with Disabled American Veterans

I proudly signed the discharge petition for the Major Richard Star Act. Right now, thousands of combat veterans are being robbed of their full retirement and disability pay. This critical legislation would correct this injustice and give our veterans their EARNED benefits.

203 Members have made their priorities clear, signing on to the Major Richard Star discharge petition. We only need 15 more to force a vote on the House floor. LET’S GET THIS DONE. Has your Member signed on? ✍️ No? Give them a call ☎️ 🔗 Discharge Petition: clerk.house.gov/DischargePet...

82 years have passed since D-Day. Allied forces successfully invaded Normandy, paved the way for liberation, & changed the course of history. The service & sacrifice of these brave servicemembers will always be remembered. Their actions inspired our nation & generations of Americans to come.

Thank you, Retired Army First Sergeant, David Star, for joining yesterday's press conference and for sharing your brother’s story. You continue to carry on your brother’s legacy as you advocate for the Major Richard Star Act.

We couldn't agree more @repraulruizmd.bsky.social. "Put your signature where your mouth is. Show up for our veterans. We cannot delay this anymore." 📣 Sign the Major Richard Star Act Discharge Petition!

The Major Richard Star Act would correct the gross injustice faced by combat-injured veterans who are seeing their benefits drastically reduced. We’re fighting relentlessly to pass it. I joined colleagues and veterans to say it loud and clear: We will use every tool possible & we will not give up.