This resolution supports the Veterans of Foreign Wars in opposing certain provisions of proposed legislation that would reduce disability compensation for veterans with service-connected conditions like tinnitus and sleep apnea. It urges Congress to protect veterans' benefits and access to care without funding cuts to other veterans' earned benefits.
Resolution supporting the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) in opposing disability compensation offset provisions contained in (House of Representatives) H.R. 9237 and (Senate) S. 4744, the proposed Take Care of America’s Veterans Act; urging Congress to remove provisions that would reduce or eliminate disability compensation for veterans with service-connected tinnitus and sleep apnea; protecting the Veterans Affairs (VA) workforce and veterans’ access to direct VA care; and advancing veterans’ benefits without funding them by cutting earned benefits for other veterans.
How it got here
The legislation originated from concerns raised by the Veterans of Foreign Wars regarding proposed cuts to veterans' disability compensation in federal legislation.
The House introduced H.R. 9237, titled the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, which included provisions that would reduce disability compensation for veterans with service-connected conditions.
The Senate introduced S. 4744, which mirrored the House bill H.R. 9237, proposing similar changes to veterans' benefits.
The VFW publicly opposed the provisions in H.R. 9237 and S. 4744, arguing that they would unfairly reduce disability compensation for veterans with tinnitus and sleep apnea.
Supervisor Wong, along with Supervisors Fielder, Melgar, and Mandelman, drafted a resolution supporting the VFW's position against the proposed cuts to veterans' benefits.
The resolution supporting the VFW's opposition to the disability compensation cuts was referred for adoption without committee reference at the next Board meeting.
Reconstructed from attached documents & the official record