Duckworth After VA’s Disability Compensation Rule Change: “It’s Clear the End Goal is to Privatize—and Eventually Dismantle—the VA”

Duckworth After VA's Disability Compensation Rule Change: "It's Clear the End Goal is to Privatize-and Eventually Dismantle-the VA"

At hearing, Senator Called on Democrats, Republicans and VSOs to Work Together to Protect Our Veterans from Continuing Attacks by the Trump Administration

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - At today's joint Senate (SVAC) and House (HVAC) Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing with Veterans Service Organization (VSOs), combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called out the Trump Administration for once again attacking our Veterans and failing to consult Congress or VSOs before they ushered in an interim final rule that effectively disincentivizes our nation's heroes from both seeking earned coverage for service-connected disabilities and following recommended treatments. During her remarks, Duckworth urged VSO members and her colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work together to codify protections that prevent the Trump Administration-or any future Administration-from messing with Veterans' disability compensation. Video of Duckworth's remarks can be viewed on the Senator's YouTube.

"If you think that this is the end of the Trump Administration's effort to attack disability compensation, you are wrong," said Duckworth. "This Administration has turned its back on Veterans every single time an opportunity has presented itself. It's clear that the end goal here is to privatize-and eventually dismantle-the VA. The most recent ambush interim final rule should be a sobering call to action. Do not be fooled-until the Administration rescinds that rule, it remains in effect."

"This is not a Republican versus Democrat issue-this is a Veterans' issue," continued Duckworth. "More than ever, Republicans, Democrats and VSOs alike need to come together to protect our Veterans. Let's get to work to codify protections that ensure that Donald Trump can't come after Veterans' disability compensation ever again."

Duckworth reiterated she will continue working to ensure the Trump Administration-and any future Administration, regardless of political party-does not undermine or threaten Veterans' care with shady rulemaking practices ever again. After public outcry from Duckworth and the Veterans' community at large, the Administration has backtracked its interim final rule-but has still refused to actually rescind it.

Last week, Trump's U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shamefully circumvented the normal rulemaking process and implemented without public comment a new interim final rule would change the way the VA determines disability rating from measuring the disability itself to measuring how the disability presents during a specific appointment-meaning if a Veterans is actively treating their injuries and their symptoms appear improved in that snapshot of time, that Veteran could receive a lower disability rating than they would have without treatment.

If enforced, the rule would almost certainly result in fewer Veterans applying for the PACT Act benefits they've earned through their service. The PACT Act was a historic, overwhelmingly bipartisan victory that enabled Veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits and similar hazardous environments during their service-which can lead to cancer and other devastating ailments-to finally get the care they need covered by the VA. But in order to claim this new coverage, a Veteran would need a new disability review, which would take place under the new rule and could counterintuitively result in Veteran's disability rating actually being downgraded despite Congress's clear intent in the PACT Act.

Duckworth has been a fierce leader and advocate for improving our Veterans' and servicemembers' access to the care they need. Two weeks ago, she led Senate Democrats in demanding VA Secretary Doug Collins to immediately reverse the VA's new draconian abortion ban. Last month, the Senator pressed Secretary Collins on his haphazard plans to restructure Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which threaten to further worsen Veterans' access to care. Last December, Duckworth and SVAC Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) demanded an investigation into Trump's misuse of VA resources-which are dedicated to delivering quality care to our Veterans-to help execute his extreme deportation campaign. Last September, Duckworth reintroduced legislation that would improve Veterans' access to contraception and increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness for contraceptive products at the VA.

Duckworth also joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in reintroducing legislation to help make it easier for our Veterans who struggle with infertility to build their families. Earlier last year, Duckworth railed against the Trump Administration for indiscriminately firing Veterans Crisis Line workers and introduced her Protect Veteran Jobs Act with U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) to reinstate the thousands of Veterans who were fired in Trump's mass layoffs-an effort Republicans shamefully blocked in March.

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