Chairman Bost Delivers Remarks Supporting the Take Care of America's Veterans Act

Thank you, Chairman Woman Fox, Ranking Member McGovern, and members of the Rules Committee. I appreciate the opportunity to testify before you today, and I am here to speak on support of H.R. 9237, the Take Care of Americans Veterans Act. I respectfully ask that you issue an appropriate rule for its consideration. If you choose to make amendments in order, I ask that you do not include any amendments that would undermine the purpose of the bill or increase its cost. Madam Chairwoman, the legislation is the most comprehensive veterans package to be considered in Congress in decades. H.R. 9237 includes more than 60 bipartisan bills to improve VA veterans benefits, veterans health care, and accountability across the entire department. But this bill is not important because of how many provisions are in it. It is important because of whom it helps. The bill begins with the major Richard Starr Act. For decades, combat-injured veterans who were medically retired from the military have been forced to give up a portion of their earned retirement pay simply because they also received VA disability compensation. This issue has persisted for years because we cannot, and have not, been able to find a way to pay for fixing it. These are men and women who were injured in service to their country. And the federal government turned around and told them they could not receive the full benefits they had earned. This bill would end that injustice and allow combat-injured veterans to receive both benefits by ensuring these veterans receive no more than 20 years' retirees with the same disability. This bill also includes the Love Lives On Act, which would eliminate the choice survivors have to face when choosing to remarry or keep their benefits. Under current law, those that choose to remarry before age 55 must give up those VA benefits, but those benefits were earned by service members and veterans who sacrificed for this country. We want surviving spouses to rebuild their lives. This bill would make sure to help them make that a little easier. H.R. 9237 also includes the Sharon Briley Richard Edmondson Veterans Benefit Expansion Act. This would increase benefits for catastrophic disabled veterans who require round-the-clock care and increase survivors' pensions. These are veterans whose injuries change the course of their lives and the lives of their families forever. Our nation's surviving spouses and severely disabled veterans have not seen an increase in benefits in decades. And I'm proud to announce that this bill would significantly boost and increase both of those. H.R. 9237 also includes the Veterans Access Act. For years, veterans have watched government bureaucracies restrict the community health care access Congress promises them. That is not what Congress intended under the Choice Act. That is not what Congress intended under the Mission Act. And veterans deserve better. Veterans should be able to access care in their communities, period. This bill rightfully puts veterans back in the center of VA health care. It would also improve transitions, assistance, and education benefits to better prepare veterans for civilian life. Furthermore, it would modernize the disability claims appeals process so veterans are not treated like a number and lost in a huge system. This bill would also reform VA construction, leasing, and IT systems that are bogged down with red tape. Madam Chairman, consideration of this legislation is long overdue. Many of these provisions are not new ideas. They are longstanding priorities of veterans, military families, survivors, caregivers, veterans service organizations have been waiting for Congress to fix for years. The Major Richard Starr Act is the best example. A press release and a handshake alone will not end an unfair policy. Only passing paid-for legislation does that. I want to take a moment to address the offset in this legislation. House Democrats' opposition to this offset is politics at its worst. This offset codifies a Biden-era proposed rule. Let me say it again. This proposal came from the Biden administration originally. The rule would alter the way VA evaluates service-connected sleep, apnea, and tendonitis. The offset is pointing forward. Let me say this very clearly. No current recipient would see their benefits changed by this legislation. No. No current recipient would see their benefits changed by this legislation. VA testified before the VA subcommittee that they plan to finalize this rule by the end of the fiscal year. These changes are not new. They reflect a bipartisan scientific process. I want these changes to benefit the veterans Democrats want to play politics. This bill would give the House a serious, responsible path to promoting real change for our veterans. Madam Chairman, this is basic good government principle at stake here. When Congress passes legislation, it has a responsibility to pay for it. Senate VA Committee Chairman Jerry Moran and I have worked hard to put forward a paid-for package that can become law. Unfortunately, my Democrat colleagues have chosen a different path. They have pushed a discharge petition designed to message a vote on legislation that they know will die in the Senate because it's not paid for. My colleagues know that, and my fellow veterans deserve more. That is what the Take Care of Americans Veterans Act will do. I respectfully ask the committee to report an appropriate rule and allow the House to consider the Take Care of Americans Veterans Act. Thank you for your consideration.