The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote this Friday on H.R. 9237, Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, legislation that proposes one of the largest cuts to veterans benefits in our nation’s history! We need your help to stop it!
While the bill contains many long-overdue veterans’ priorities, including the Major Richard Star Act, unfortunately, going forward it would effectively end disability compensation for service-connected tinnitus and significantly reduce compensation for most veterans with sleep apnea who use a CPAP device. That is unacceptable!
If enacted, the legislation would reduce disability compensation for up to 1.5 million disabled veterans who file new claims or undergo reassessments, cutting up to $57 billion in benefits over the next decade, according to VA’s analysis. Last week, VA publicly stated that “no changes are planned or imminent” for tinnitus or sleep apnea ratings, yet the House plans to vote to bypass the normal regulatory process and impose these drastic benefit reductions by statute.
Unless Members of Congress hear directly from veterans, family members, survivors, caregivers and supporters, these proposed benefit reductions could become a harsh reality for millions of veterans in the future.
Here’s what we need you to do immediately:
1. Call your Representative’s Washington, DC office and tell them to Vote “NO” on H.R. 9237, Take Care of America’s Veterans Act.
- You can easily get connected by calling the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and asking to speak to your Representative’s office.
- If you don’t know your Representative’s name, just give them your Zip Code and they will connect you.
2. Once connected, ask to speak to your Representative or a member of their staff and tell them:
- You are a veteran, family member, survivor, caregiver or supporter of veterans;
- You live and vote in their congressional district;
- You want them to Vote “NO” on H.R. 9237, Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, because it will CUT veterans benefits;
- Ask them to let you know how they vote on this legislation.
3. Share this message with your fellow veterans, family and friends and ask them to act with you by calling their Members of Congress.
A grateful nation should never try to balance its budget on the backs of those who served.
Call now. Speak out. Protect earned benefits for veterans of all generations: past, present and future!