By MOAA Staff

Supporters of the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA) – omnibus legislation including more than 20 MOAA-backed bills – gathered on Capitol Hill on July 14 to stress the need to move quickly to secure long-overdue benefits for millions of veterans, caregivers, and survivors.

“Veterans don’t need this legislation tomorrow. They don’t need it even today. Veterans needed this legislation yesterday. And the day before that. And their families and survivors as well,” MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), said during the event. “It is already well past time to make this happen, and we have a unique, but fleeting, opportunity.”

[TAKE ACTION: Ask Your Lawmakers to Support the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act]

Kelly spoke alongside lawmakers and representatives from the American Legion, Wounded Warrior Project, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and other organizations backing the omnibus bill. Nearly two dozen such groups signed onto a recent letter to leaders on the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs committees explaining the need to “translate long-standing bipartisan agreement into meaningful action.”

Speakers highlighted different parts of the sweeping legislation, which includes meaningful relief for tens of thousands of combat-injured veterans whose military retirement pay is offset by VA disability compensation.

“We have an opportunity, folks, to make history with the Richard Star Act and all of these bills that we’ve been working on for many, many years,” said Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), longtime lead sponsor of the Major Richard Star Act in the House. “This is the time to get it done.”

TCAVA Provisions

Along with assisting combat-injured veterans, the legislation would:

• Offer education, employment, and retirement support to caregivers, many of whom sacrifice financial and personal well-being to provide for those who served.
• End penalties faced by surviving spouses who lose benefits if they remarry before age 55.
• Reduce eligibility requirements for enhanced Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for survivors of veterans diagnosed with ALS.

[MORE DETAILS: Comprehensive Veterans Package Includes Several Top MOAA Priorities]

“We have found a pathway to finally get these benefits and transformations done for the first time in years,” said Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, at the press event.

Keeping Our Promises

“MOAA believes that the nation makes a promise to those who serve, their families and their survivors, and it doesn’t end when service ends,” Kelly said. “The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act keeps that promise.”

Kelly and other advocates brought up the bill’s funding mechanism, which would codify a proposed change to the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities for tinnitus and sleep apnea. The change would not reduce benefits for veterans already diagnosed with those conditions, and any updates would be made prospectively to future claims or requests to revise ratings.

“It is not an approach that anyone likes or prefers,” Kelly said, “but the alternative is not acceptable. Doing nothing risks having veterans’ funds inevitably returned to the Treasury with nothing to show for it except reduced ratings and the frustration of once again going back to Square One.”

TCAVA is on the House calendar for floor consideration this week. A vote had not been scheduled as of July 15.