Mission Roll Call is proud to join a coalition of Veterans Service Organizations in supporting continued consideration of the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, H.R. 9237.

This legislation represents one of the largest veterans’ legislative packages considered in recent years. It combines more than 60 individual legislative proposals, many of them bipartisan, addressing issues veterans have consistently identified through Mission Roll Call surveys and public engagement, including Community Care, suicide prevention, traumatic brain injury, caregiver support, service dogs, transition assistance, VA accountability, and the Major Richard Star Act. Taken together, these provisions have the potential to improve care, benefits, and support for millions of veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors.

Like every major legislative package, this bill reflects the realities of the congressional process. Under federal budget rules, expanding benefits often requires Congress to identify a funding source. The proposed offset has generated understandable debate, particularly regarding future disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus. While reasonable people can disagree on that approach, it is important to recognize that the Department of Veterans Affairs has periodically updated the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities to reflect advances in medical science, diagnostics, treatment, and technology. Throughout its history, the rating schedule has evolved alongside changes in medicine and the understanding of disability.

Updating the sleep apnea and tinnitus portions of the rating schedule through regulation has been under consideration since 2022. Under federal law, absent Congress acting to dedicate those resources to veterans’ priorities, the resulting savings would revert to the Treasury, and would no longer be available to fund veteran initiatives.

“Mission Roll Call believes veterans deserve an honest discussion about both the benefits contained in this legislation and the practical challenges involved in advancing it,” said Jim Whaley, CEO, Mission Roll Call.  “We also believe veterans currently receiving earned benefits should be protected, that any future rating changes should be applied prospectively, and that Congress should continue working toward the strongest possible outcome for the veteran community.”

On balance, the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act presents a significant opportunity to advance a broad range of veteran priorities through a single legislative package. Mission Roll Call supports continued consideration of the legislation and encourages Congress to continue refining it to deliver meaningful results for those who served.

Read the coalition’s full letter to Congress here: