House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Democrats

🚨Congress reconvenes TOMORROW. Veterans, call your members NOW and urge them to sign the discharge petition. We have 157 signatures. We only need 61 more to force a vote on the House Floor. It's time to #PasstheMajorRichardStarAct! ➡️ Has your Member signed? Visit: clerk.house.gov/DischargePet...

Memorial Day is a reminder for us to reflect on and pay tribute to the stories of our lost servicemembers. To the families who have lost a loved one in service, our nation can never repay our debt to you or make up for your loss. Our hearts are with you on this day.

For years, veterans have been expressing the urgent need to end the 'wounded veteran tax'. We've heard them loud and clear. Their number one priority is our priority. We must pass the Major Richard Star Act.

RM @repmarktakano.bsky.social has pushed for a vote on the Major Richard Star Act. The time is now; our veterans cannot wait any longer. While Trump has spent over $30 billion on an unwanted war with Iran, our veterans at home are suffering.

Veterans who survive sexual assault need to be able to turn to VA for support. H.R. 5203, led by @kellymorrisonmn.bsky.social, would bolster VA facilities' ability to care for veterans after sexual assault. As a provider, she knows we must deliver compassionate & competent care.

Republicans want veterans to foot the bill, through new VA home loan fees, for other veterans' benefits. Without RM @repmarktakano.bsky.social's amendment to H.R. 6047, tens of thousands more veterans and their families could face foreclosure in Trump's economy.

"Our communities believe that honoring service means ensuring every veteran has a safe and stable place to call home." @repdexteror.bsky.social's Every Veteran Housed Act would remove barriers, streamline VA homelessness program eligibility standards, & expand access for Guard and Reserve veterans.

At a time when Republicans are spending billions of dollars on wars of choice, tax cuts for the rich, ICE, and ballrooms, it is unbelievable that Republicans want to charge veterans for veterans' benefits. Congress should focus on reducing veterans' financial burden, not increasing it.

Time and time again, the Republican majority has chosen its own priorities over VSO priorities. This week is yet another example. These bills are not bipartisan, we don't know how they will be paid for, and they don't reflect VSO requests. This is hardly a responsible reauthorization process.

"...$30 billion so far on a war of choice, $1 billion on ballrooms & reflecting pools, a trillion or more on the DoD, tax cuts for the wealthy…. And yet, when it is time to honor our promise to servicemembers, veterans & their families, we suddenly hear cries of poverty." @repmarktakano.bsky.social

H.R 6047 increases benefits for veterans and survivors, but has vets pay for it by imposing fees on VA home loans. 10K vets were forced into foreclosure at Trump's hands. H.R 6047 would only worsen the crisis. Republicans and Rep. Barrett are harming veterans who just want to stay in their homes.

H.R. 1041 will put guns in the hands of VA's most vulnerable beneficiaries. "H.R. 1041 does nothing to promote better mental health among servicemembers and veterans. It, however, injects more risk of harm into the system... I cannot in good conscience support [it]." - RM @repmarktakano.bsky.social

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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/...

"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

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?...

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.

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.

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.

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.

Veterans, VSO leaders, and Members of Congress have all heard the same thing—denial numbers and claim processing errors are up. We need to ask more than, "How fast are claims moving?" We need to ask, "How well are we serving veterans in that process?"

In case it wasn't clear, Mr. President, veterans don't want a vanity arch that will block the view of Arlington National Cemetery. We read their concerns. You should, too.

Trump ended the VASP program last year, leaving thousands of families at risk. Since then, 10,000 veteran families have fallen into foreclosure, 90,000 are at risk. Trump started an unwanted war while failing those who have already served. Our government must work for those who fought to protect it.

Veterans and Americans can all agree that attacking civilian infrastructure would be a war crime, and Trump should NEVER go through with it. Listen to those who have fought in war and sacrificed for our country, Mr. President.

ICYMI: Trump says government should fund one thing: the military. His budget follows through. Massive defense increases send billions to contractors and corporate profits, while cutting healthcare and basic services.

Veterans served this country and fought for our freedom. Yet, veterans have less access to fertility care than Members of Congress—why? Listen to Georgette Kerr with American Society for Reproductive Medicine, addressing this reality at our IVF roundtable last month.

90% of VA's Police officers are veterans themselves, and many officers want to "pay it forward" to their fellow veterans. VA and OPM's downgrades negate that mission. We must pass @reptimkennedy.bsky.social's H.R. 8010 to protect and improve the safety and security of veterans and VA employees.

It seems last week's VA witness had a hard time answering one simple question: Did the VASP program keep veterans in their homes and save them from foreclosure?

Secretary Collins seems to be in a race to tear down VA from within. He has created a toxic work environment, eliminated collective bargaining rights, and demeaned his employees. Instead of being a Secretary who builds up his employees, he's tearing them down.

Trump and his VA Secretary are trying to strip veterans of the freedoms they fought for. Homeless veterans should not be forced into guardianships. These veterans aren’t without hope. They deserve care and services, not confinement and shame. This VA is deterring veterans from seeking VA care.

ICYMI:VA has spent weeks misleading the public about its plans to force homeless veterans into guardianships. Trump's EO last year called for locking up homeless people, including veterans, rather than helping them. Guardianship will not fix the crux of the problems veterans face; they need support.

Family & Medical Leave (FMLA) ensures VA employees can take the time they need to care for their family members. But Sec Collin's VA believes in-laws shouldn't be counted as family. We must pass @ramirez.house.gov's HR 7948 to ensure VA employees can care for all members of their family when needed.

Trump's VA now has the most restrictive abortion policy of any federal healthcare program. Federally incarcerated women now have more access to reproductive healthcare than women veterans at VA. This is not right, and we will continue to fight for women veterans' rights.

Tonight, Senators will vote to uphold or overturn Trump's cruel and dangerous ban on abortion care and counseling for veterans who receive their healthcare through VA. They must vote to restore veterans' rights.

Soon, the Senate is voting on a resolution to overturn the Trump admin's near-total ban on abortion care and counseling for veterans who receive their healthcare from VA. Veterans deserve access to a full range of reproductive healthcare at VA. The Senate must vote in support of veterans.

🧵Last week, @repmarktakano.bsky.social held a roundtable on veterans' fertility care & IVF access. Alex, an Air Force veteran, shared her story of nearly losing her fertility and her life after she was unable to receive timely reproductive healthcare while serving our nation.