Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz, Lawmakers, and Veterans Groups Oppose H.R. 9237, the 'Take Care of America's Veterans Act,' Demand for Clean Major Richard Star Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) joined House Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39), Reps. Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Mike Thompson (CA-04), and Gil Cisneros (CA-31), alongside the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and the Union Veterans Council (AFL-CIO), to oppose H.R. 9237, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, ahead of its scheduled vote on the House floor tomorrow.

H.R. 9237 would strip the Veterans Health Administration of its care-coordination role, increase fees on VA home loan benefits during a housing affordability crisis, and pay for new benefits by cutting VA disability for hearing loss and severed difficulty sleeping, two of the most common service-connected conditions among combat veterans. According to the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, the package would cut at least $60 billion from veterans' benefits over the next ten years.

"When Americans answer the call to serve, we make them a promise that their sacrifice will be honored in full,"said Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25)."The Take Care of America's Veterans Act breaks that promise. It claims to fix the wounded veteran's tax, but it caps their benefits and takes PACT Act benefits away from 1.5 million veterans to pay for it. The solution is the Major Richard Star Act. No shortchanging. No caps. No cuts."

"Veterans' benefits are not offsets. When servicemembers take their oath to protect and defend our country, we thank them with a promise to take care of them when they take off their uniform. It is reprehensible that Republicans are considering breaking that promise to one generation of veterans to pay for benefits for another,"said Ranking Member Mark Takano. "That is why I oppose the Taking Benefits from America's Veterans Act and urge my Republican colleagues to support my discharge petition for the Major Richard Star Act instead."

"The Take Care of American's Veterans Act breaks America's sacred promise to our veterans: serve your country, then your country delivers the care and benefits you've earned and need," said Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17). "If this bill passes, servicemembers would return from Trump's reckless Iran War to a weaker VA with poorer healthcare and fewer benefits. Our message here is clear: don't cut veterans benefits, not now, not ever. Republicans should join me in supporting the discharge petition to pass the Major Richard Star Act"

The Major Richard Star Act, introduced with Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) as lead Democratic sponsor alongside Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) as lead Republican sponsor, has 330 cosponsors, but a discharge petition, co-filed by Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) and House Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39), is needed to force a vote on the House floor. The petition currently needs five more Republican House Members to sign to reach the 218 signatures required. Congressman Dr. Ruiz will continue urging his colleagues to sign the petition and bring the Major Richard Star Act to a clean, standalone vote.

Click here to watch the Press Conference

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