Government Relations
Legislative updates and key veterans policy developments.
Key Takeaways
• National provided a detailed update on the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA), a 554-page omnibus package combining 62 pieces of legislation, which remains stalled due to pay-for disputes and lack of sufficient votes in both chambers.
• The Major Richard Starr Act faces multiple obstacles: the discharge petition is 5 votes short (213 of 218 needed), the House NDAA amendment failed in the Rules Committee, and a Senate NDAA amendment attempt by Ranking Member Blumenthal is pending.
• PVA’s official position opposes using VA rating schedule reductions (sleep apnea/tinnitus) to fund the Major Richard Starr Act, as it is a Government DoD obligation, not a VA one.
• The STAND Act drew significant congressional interest at a recent Relations House Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee hearing; VA expressed opposition but agreed to meet with the subcommittee chairwoman.
• A Happy Hour focused on mentorship and follow-up is scheduled for July 22nd at 4 p.m. ET.
• Officer nominations for the ACGRD are open through August 1st.
• Current treasury balance stands at $18,264.99, pending reduction for seminar grants.
• Next meeting is scheduled for August 3rd, 2026.
Challenges
• The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA) is stalled due to deep disagreements over the pay-for mechanism (sleep apnea/tinnitus rating schedule reductions), fragmentation within the veteran service organization community, insufficient votes in both the House and Senate, and limited legislative days before the August recess.
• The Major Richard Starr Act faces multiple blocked pathways: the discharge petition is 5 votes short, the House NDAA amendment failed in the Rules Committee, and the Senate NDAA amendment attempt is pending but uncertain.
• The House floor is frozen pending resolution of the SAVE Act, preventing any legislation from advancing.
• The Toxic Exposure Fund’s mandatory scoring status has effectively stymied new veterans’ legislation by making it extremely difficult to identify appropriate offsets.
• Only 25% of VA physicians are enrolled in the electronic death registration system, undermining the effectiveness of the Veterans Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act.
• The tax treatment of Disabled Veterans Dignity Act payments was not addressed in TCAVA due to the Ways and Means Committee’s refusal to act within the available timeframe.
• VA expressed opposition to the STAND Act at the recent House subcommittee hearing, citing tracking difficulties.
August 7 is Purple Heart Day!