Key facts
- Legislation sponsored by Rep. Mike Bost seeks to expand benefits for disabled veterans and military widows.
- The bill's funding relies on changes to how new disability claims for tinnitus and sleep apnea are rated.
- The Major Richard Star Act, a component of the bill, would raise retirement payouts for approximately 50,000 combat-injured veterans.
- The proposed changes are expected to generate about $57 billion in savings over a decade.
- Opponents argue that using savings from benefit reductions to fund other benefits is a dangerous precedent.
Legislation aimed at expanding benefits for veterans is creating division within the veterans community over its funding mechanism. The bill, championed by Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), chair of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, includes provisions for increased monthly payouts to disabled veterans and extended support for military widows.
The centerpiece of the proposed legislation is the Major Richard Star Act, which would enhance retirement benefits for approximately 50,000 combat-injured veterans. This act, which has garnered significant bipartisan support with over 300 co-sponsors in the House and 78 in the Senate, has been stalled for years due to concerns about its estimated $13 billion cost over the next decade.
To address the funding concerns, Bost's bill proposes to pay for the Star Act and other benefit expansions by reallocating savings generated from changes to Veterans Affairs disability ratings. These changes, which have been in development since before President Donald Trump's term, involve limiting payouts for new disability claims related to tinnitus and sleep apnea. This adjustment is projected to save the U.S. Treasury around $57 billion over the next ten years.
However, the approach has drawn criticism from congressional Democrats and several veterans groups. They argue that using savings derived from reducing certain benefits to fund others establishes a dangerous precedent and constitutes a breach of the government's commitment to support military members and their families after their service.