congressional oversight. Any savings resulting from that process should
be reinvested in improving disability evaluations, rehabilitation
services, and veterans' healthcare--not used to finance unrelated
provisions of the legislation.''
  If my colleagues are suddenly interested in following that science,
they should let the experts continue their work independently without
the political pressure that passage of this bill will inevitably
create.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms.
Underwood), my good friend. She is a former member of this committee
who currently serves on the House Committee on Appropriations.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the
Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act.
  Serving veterans is one of the greatest privileges we have as Members
of Congress, and we must do everything that we can to ensure not only
that they receive the benefits that they have earned through their
service and sacrifice, but also that they can access those benefits
with the dignity that they deserve.
  That is why I am so proud to lead the bipartisan Lactation Spaces for
Veteran Moms Act with Congresswoman Ashley Hinson.
  As a nurse, I have seen firsthand the benefits of breastfeeding for
moms and babies. My bill will ensure that every VA medical center
contains a clean, private space specifically designed for nursing and
pumping.
  Our veterans and their families have given so much in service to our
country, and they deserve the same level of support and respect when
they seek care.
  For VA medical centers to meet the needs of young families,
caregivers, and our hardworking VA employees, they need to be equipped
with proper facilities.
  In the VA medical centers that lack a dedicated lactation space, moms
are forced to use unsanitary places like bathrooms or struggle to find
a private corner. That is unacceptable. Our veterans deserve better.
  That is why we must pass the Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act
now.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I don't think that the ranking member is caught up on
current events. Just recently, just to confirm what we already knew,
the VA officials confirmed that they are moving ahead with the changes
on tinnitus, sleep apnea, and disability benefits.
  VA has made no move to withdraw the sleep apnea and/or those from the
changes that will then save the money that then the bureaucrats will
control.
  So as we are moving forward--I mean, the ranking member can keep
saying things that aren't true, or he can admit this is an issue, and
that is where we are coming up with the revenue.
  That being said, let me tell you the next person I want to yield time
to has worked on the Major Richard Star Act for years, as did his
father before him.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the Representative from Florida's 12th
District.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership
and thank him for this great package that will support our veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Take Care of
America's Veterans Act.
  First and foremost, this legislation delivers long-overdue justice by
including key provisions of my Major Richard Star Act. I promised
Richard Star that we would get this done, and we are in the process of
doing it, again, on behalf of our true American heroes, which I remain
committed to achieving full concurrent receipt. Anything that is not
included in this bill, we are going to pursue for the benefit of our
veterans.
  This package takes a major step forward by providing immediate relief
to nearly 60,000 combat-injured veterans, Mr. Speaker. For far too
long, medically retired servicemembers wounded in combat have been
forced to forfeit a portion of the retirement pay they earned simply
because they also receive VA disability compensation, and that is
wrong. That is the so-called wounded veteran tax, and it is
fundamentally unjust.
  These men and women sacrificed their health in defense of our Nation.
They earned both benefits, and they deserve to receive both.
  This legislation also strengthens veterans' access to healthcare by
expanding choice, improves the VA claims and appeals process, and
increases support for catastrophically disabled veterans, caregivers,
and surviving spouses.
  Republicans have been working on these issues for many years, Mr.
Speaker, and it looks like it is going to come to fruition. I
appreciate it so very much, and I thank the chairman for his
leadership.
  It enhances mental health services, expands care in rural
communities, improves transition assistance for servicemembers entering
civilian life, and modernizes VA facilities to better serve future
generations.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the
gentleman from Florida.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Most importantly, this bill honors the legacy of Major
Richard Star, who fought tirelessly to correct this injustice before
his passing. His determination has brought us to this moment, and
today, we have the opportunity to continue that fight on behalf of
thousands of deserving veterans.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a coalition letter
from 10 veterans service organizations; a resolution from The American
Legion Department of Texas; a statement from The American Legion,
Trujillo-Sheets Post 28, in Durango, Colorado; and emails from
Minnesota Blue Earth Post 89 of The American Legion and American Legion
Post 58 in Belleville, Illinois, all in opposition to this bill.
                                                    June 24, 2026.
     Hon. Jerry Moran,
     Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Richard Blumenthal,
     Ranking Member, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate,
         Washington, DC.
     Hon. Mike Bost,
     Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Mark Takano,
     Ranking Member, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairmen Moran and Bost, and Ranking Members
     Blumenthal and Takano: As organizations representing millions
     of veterans, service members, survivors, caregivers, and
     military families of all generations, we have long worked
     with Congress to protect and strengthen the benefits and
     services earned through military service. For that reason, we
     do not support the funding mechanism within the Take Care of
     America's Veterans Act (H.R. 9237/S. 4744) that would
     significantly reduce future benefits for more than a million
     disabled veterans.
       The Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities is
     intended to reflect medical evidence, functional impairment,
     and scientific expertise, not serve as a budgetary offset. If
     Congress establishes the precedent that disability ratings
     may be rewritten through statute to generate ``savings'',
     future Congresses will have a ready-made roadmap for reducing
     earned benefits whenever fiscal pressures arise. Disability
     compensation is not a government program to be trimmed when
     convenient. It is earned compensation for injuries and
     illnesses incurred in service to our nation.
       Some supporters argue that Congress is simply implementing
     changes previously proposed by the Department of Veterans
     Affairs. However, VA never finalized those proposals, largely
     due to receiving more than 2,600 comments raising concerns
     about the medical justification for the changes and their
     impact on future veterans. In fact, VA spokesman Quinn Slaven
     recently stated, ``No changes are planned or imminent,'' and
     noted that the agency is still reviewing the proposed rule,
     which ``would need to undergo significant changes [emphasis
     added] prior to being finalized'' before any implementation
     could occur (Slaven, quoted in GovExec, June 16, 2026).
       We are also troubled that reductions to future VA
     disability compensation are being used to finance provisions
     such as the Major Richard Star Act, which addresses a
     military retirement inequity rooted in Department of Defense
     policy. Correcting a Title 10 obligation should not come at
     the expense of Title 38 benefits. We continue to support
     enactment of a clean and complete Major Richard Star Act that
     delivers full concurrent receipt to combat-injured retirees
     without reducing earned benefits for future veterans.
       Congress can and should address these priorities without
     reducing compensation for future disabled veterans, bypassing
     the regulatory process, or undermining confidence in the
     disability compensation system.
       We respectfully urge Congress to find a different path
     forward for these important benefit increases, including a
     clean and complete Major Richard Star Act, that does not