Unbiased AI-powered news
The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act bundles more than 60 measures addressing disability pay, mental health services, and VA claims processing. Introduced by House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, the package includes the Major Richard Star Act and other provisions. Newsweek reported the bill has been referred to House committees.
NewsweekThe Take Care of America’s Veterans Act was introduced in the House on June 10 by Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost alongside lawmakers from both parties. The legislation bundles more than 60 bipartisan bills into one package. Key provisions include the Major Richard Star Act, which would allow certain combat-injured veterans to receive both military retirement pay and VA disability compensation without the current dollar-for-dollar offset.
The measure affects tens of thousands of medically retired veterans with fewer than 20 years of service. Another section, the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act, would increase compensation for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities and provide additional support for surviving spouses.
The Love Lives On Act within the package would eliminate the remarriage penalty for surviving spouses of fallen service members.
The bill also extends benefits for families of veterans who die of service-connected illnesses such as ALS and expands mental health and suicide prevention programs. In 2023, 6,398 veterans died by suicide, averaging roughly 17.5 deaths per day, with more than 60 percent of those individuals not engaged in VA care.
Additional measures address substance use disorders, which affect roughly 1 in 10 veterans overall and 12–13 percent of post-9/11 veterans.
The bill creates a pilot program for grants to nonprofits supplying service animals to veterans at no charge and establishes a TBI Innovation Grant Program for traumatic brain injury treatment. It proposes faster disability claims processing through efficiency standards, expanded automation, and annual reporting requirements.
Mike Bost stated earlier this month that the bill combines over 60 bipartisan measures to protect healthcare access, cut red tape in the VA disability benefits system, advance economic opportunities, and put veterans at the center of VA’s mission.
Representative Chuck Edwards said the legislation improves access to care, strengthens benefits, modernizes outdated systems, and ensures taxpayer dollars are used responsibly. The bill would be funded in part through changes to disability ratings for conditions such as sleep apnea and tinnitus that would apply only to future claimants.
Kevin Thompson said passage of the Major Richard Star Act will depend largely on pressure from veterans and advocacy groups.
Alex Beene noted concerns over how the bill will be financially covered and said opposition from major veterans organizations makes passage in its current form far from certain unless lawmakers find a different funding source. The bill has been referred to House committees for further consideration.
Single source — no framing comparison available.
ABC NewsA magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Venezuela on June 24 at 18:04 local time. Buildings collapsed in Caracas and tsunami threats were issued for several areas. The shaking was also felt in Bogotá.
The Japan TimesTemperatures across much of the continent exceeded 35 C on Wednesday, with France and Spain posting new national records. At least 94 million people faced the extreme conditions, and infrastructure not built for such heat amplified the effects.
SemaforLineShine in Shenzhen displaced El Capitan to claim the number-one position on the Top500 list released Tuesday. It is the first time since 2017 that a Chinese machine has led the rankings.