Take Care of America’s Veterans Act Sparks Intra-Veteran-Group Rift and Calls for a VFW Probe

The “Take Care of America’s Veterans Act” (H.R. 9237) is slated for a vote in the House on Thursday, July 15, 2026. Sponsored by Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), chair of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the package bundles more than 60 measures, the centerpiece of which is the Major Richard Star Act—an expansion of retirement payouts for roughly 50,000 combat-injured veterans. Lawmakers estimate the new benefits will cost about $13 billion over the next decade.

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Republican leaders propose to finance the expansion by altering Veterans Affairs disability-rating rules, limiting future payouts for new claims tied to tinnitus and sleep-apnea. The Treasury estimates these changes could generate roughly $57 billion in savings over ten years, which would be redirected to the bill’s other provisions. Critics argue that using one group’s benefits to fund another creates a “dangerous precedent” and violates the government’s contract with service members.

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• Rep. Mike Bost – Bill sponsor, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chair.

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• Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) – Co-sponsor, demanded a VA review of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

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• Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) – Stated the act needs “serious changes” and opposed offsets.

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• Mario Marquez – Executive director of government affairs, American Legion.

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• Robert Couture – Director of public affairs, VFW.

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• John Muckelbauer – VFW general counsel.

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• Disabled American Veterans (DAV) – Opposes benefit offsets.

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• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) – Opposes the funding mechanism and has faced an investigation request.

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• Beneficiaries: ~50,000 combat-injured veterans (Star Act).

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• Cost: $13 billion over ten years.

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• Savings Target: $57 billion from revised disability-rating rules.

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• Tinnitus Claims: >3 million veterans currently receive compensation.

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• Sleep-Apnea Claims: >763,000 veterans receive benefits.

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Bost framed the legislation as a bipartisan effort, emphasizing that “all these groups and organizations have worked together… now it’s time to move forward to help veterans.” Luna warned that “we should not be offsetting some disabilities to pay for others.” Bergman joined Bost in asking the Department of Veterans Affairs to examine whether the VFW’s recent advocacy complies with accreditation standards. Democratic leaders have urged their members to oppose the bill, citing concerns over the proposed cuts to tinnitus and sleep-apnea benefits.

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The VFW released a political cartoon titled “Honor the Contract,” which Republican officials described as “inflammatory, fear-mongering and dangerous political rhetoric.” DAV and the Veterans of Foreign Wars have argued that disability compensation “should never be treated as a budget offset.” Senators, including Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), have written that the statutory cuts would “strip disabled veterans of earned compensation and health-care benefits.”

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Republican estimates place the bill’s net cost at $13 billion, while the Treasury projects $57 billion in savings—an unresolved arithmetic gap. The VA has not yet confirmed whether it will open a formal investigation into the VFW, and the outcome of the House vote remains uncertain.

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• “We have discussed it, we have argued, but now it’s time to move forward to help veterans.” — Mike Bost, Chairman, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee

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• “We recognize that reasonable people have reached different conclusions, and we respect those differences,” — Mario Marquez, American Legion

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• “The recent inflammatory, fear-mongering and dangerous political rhetoric from the Veterans of Foreign Wars is inappropriate and must end immediately,” — Mike Bost, as reported by Stars and Stripes

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• “What’s dangerous is when veteran benefits are being aimed at by Congress and by anyone else. It is dangerous to veterans who rely on those benefits often as a primary source of income,” — Robert Couture, VFW director of public affairs and strategic outreach

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• “The proposed Take Care of Veterans Act is looking to increase benefits or create new benefits for some veterans while simultaneously decreasing or eliminating benefits that affect nearly 4 million veterans.” — Drew Powers, founder, Powers Financial Group

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The House will vote on the act later this week; Republicans hope to advance it to the Senate, where Democratic senators could block consideration through procedural votes. Simultaneously, the VA is scheduled to meet with VFW representatives to discuss the accreditation review requested by Bost and Bergman. The investigation’s outcome and the bill’s final passage remain open questions.

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