Veterans Day Puts Two Benefit Bills in Focus
On November 11, advocates called on Congress to pass the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act and the Major Richard Star Act, saying the bills would deliver on the country’s obligations to veterans and their families. Both measures have been stalled since 2020, despite bipartisan support, one advocate said.
The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act includes more than 60 proposals affecting over 32 million veterans, caregivers and survivors. It would give severely wounded veterans another $10,000 each year, widen support to over 600,000 survivors and raise some survivor compensation for the first time in over 20 years. The measure would also eliminate a rule that can reduce a survivor’s benefits if a Gold Star spouse remarries.
The bill would extend health coverage for some caregivers after a veteran dies or leaves a VA caregiver program, and help them return to work. It also proposes greater assistance for traumatic brain damage, blast-related exposure and PTSD, including a VA Blast Overpressure Task Force.
The Major Richard Star Act would address retirement pay for more than 59,000 combat-injured veterans whose military pensions are partly reduced because they receive disability benefits as well. The advocate said the bills have 334 House backers and 79 Senate backers.
A separate Veterans Day appeal highlighted access to care and mental health support. The VA’s latest annual report counted 6,488 veteran suicides in 2024, averaging 17.7 a day; 62% of those veterans had not received VA care during their year of death or the preceding year. The appeal urged leaders to address that gap and support military families and caregivers.
Congress Must Deliver on Its Promise to Veterans
Veterans and their families should not have to wait years for support they have earned. On November 11, advocates urged Congress to pass the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act and the Major Richard Star Act, both stalled since 2020 despite broad bipartisan backing.
The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act combines more than 60 proposals affecting over 32 million veterans, caregivers and survivors. It would give severely wounded veterans $10,000 more each year, widen benefits to over 600,000 survivors and raise some survivor compensation for the first time in over 20 years. It would also stop Gold Star spouses from forfeiting earned benefits if they remarry.
The bill would extend health coverage for some caregivers after a veteran dies or exits a VA caregiver program, and offer help returning to work. It also proposes greater assistance with traumatic brain damage, blast-related exposure and PTSD.
The urgency extends to healthcare: the VA counted 6,488 veteran suicides in 2024, an average of 17.7 a day, and 62% of those who died had not received VA care in the year of death or the previous year. Advocates say lawmakers should close that gap, rather than leave families and caregivers to bear the burden alone.
The Major Richard Star Act would stop more than 59,000 combat-injured veterans from having part of their retirement income withheld because they also collect disability benefits. The bills have 334 House and 79 Senate co-sponsors. Their continued delay under both parties’ leadership is a failure to meet obligations to those who served.
Congress Should Stop Delaying Veterans’ Earned Benefits
The case for these veterans’ bills is straightforward: service-earned retirement and disability compensation should not cancel each other out, and Congress should act on measures with substantial bipartisan support. On November 11, advocates called for passage of the Major Richard Star Act and the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, both stalled since 2020 under Republican and Democratic leadership.
The Major Richard Star Act would address reductions in retirement pay affecting more than 59,000 combat-injured veterans who also receive disability compensation. The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act includes more than 60 proposals intended to benefit over 32 million veterans, caregivers and survivors.
That measure would grant an extra $10,000 each year to severely injured veterans, extend benefits to over 600,000 survivors and boost some survivor compensation for the first time in over 20 years. It would also remove rules that can penalize Gold Star spouses for remarrying, extend health coverage for some caregivers, and assist caregivers seeking to return to work.
The legislation has 334 House co-sponsors and 79 Senate co-sponsors. That support makes the years of delay especially difficult to defend: the bills have been stalled through changes in party control, making leadership—not partisan advantage—the issue raised by their advocates.
A separate Veterans Day appeal pointed to 6,488 veteran suicides in 2024, averaging 17.7 per day. The VA said 62% of those veterans had not received VA care during their year of death or the preceding year. Advocates called for better access to care and mental health resources, alongside support for military families and caregivers.
Reported by The Washington Examiner, MSNBC.
