Streamlining services for veterans could lead to cuts
Now it’s our military veterans being sucker-punched by this administration.
In the grossly misleadingly titled bill “Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (H.R. 9237),” the Trump administration claims it is streamlining services to be more efficient and effective. To accomplish this, it will cut up to $57 billion from the Veterans Administration budget over the next 10 years.
This will reduce important services available to our veterans, including:
• Tinnitus, which will not be treated unless a veteran also suffers from hearing loss.
• VA home loan fees will be tripled.
• Blanket decisions on treatment appeals will be allowed rather than consideration of individuals’ medical histories.
• It caps benefits for those serving less than 20 years, which slashes benefits for those injured in training or combat.
• It establishes a legal mechanism to transfer VA properties to private operators.
There is more, but I hope the list above makes the case.
Is this administration trying to balance the bloated budget on the backs of our service people? How about saving money by not building a ballroom or a triumphal arch, by not refurbishing a vanity Air Force One, or by replacing existing names on buildings and warships with those of this president?
Regardless of how our veterans serve, their enlistment signifies a willingness to be placed in harm’s way to protect the rest of us. Making medical and financial services available to them is our nation’s obligation to thank them for this willingness. These are neither options nor favors to be dispensed, especially via a cynical, misleadingly titled piece of legislation.
Please contact your representatives and senators to urge them to vote against this proposal. If you have friends or relatives in other states, please consider contacting them to urge their elected federal officials to do the same.
This administration has belittled veterans in the past, but this proposed bill treats our veterans as being expendable. That is a betrayal of the highest order.