--- title: "Vets groups slam House for quietly passing divisive benefits bill on Veterans Day" description: "Democrats and veterans groups slammed House Republicans for passing a bill on Veterans Day that cuts benefits for sleep apnea and tinnitus." date: "2026-11-12" modified: "2026-11-12" authors: - name: "Patty Nieberg" job_title: "Senior Reporter" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/patty-nieberg.md" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/take-care-americas-veterans-act-benefits-cuts-controversy/" categories: - "Benefits" - "Field Guide" - "News" - "Veterans" --- # Vets groups slam House for quietly passing divisive benefits bill on Veterans Day ![U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, fire an M777 howitzer during training for Ivy Sting VII at Fort Carson, Colorado, Oct. 27, 2026. The exercise integrates Next Generation Command and Control to support timely communication between artillery crews and leaders, enabling informed decision-making during fire missions. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael Knight)]() *Democrats and veterans groups slammed House Republicans for passing a bill on Veterans Day that cuts benefits for sleep apnea and tinnitus. Army photo by Sgt. Michael Knight.* A divisive bill that cuts disability benefits for veterans with sleep apnea and tinnitus while simultaneously granting compensation for combat veterans was passed by the House on Veterans Day — evoking condemnation from Democrats and veterans groups. The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act is a large legislative package with dozens of bills, including a controversial set of policies that drew strong opposition from the start. Veteran Service Organizations said that the package would cut disability benefits from one group — [veterans with sleep apnea and tinnitus ratings]() — and act as an “offset” to pay for another group, combat wounded veterans. [Democrats]() and [veteran advocates]() criticized House Republicans for passing disability cuts on Veterans Day — and doing so with a voice vote where members call out "aye" or "no” the loudest, instead of recording an official vote under their name. “On a day when America honors the brave men and women who stepped forward to defend our freedom, House leaders chose to sneak through legislation threatening earned benefits for millions of veterans, their families and survivors,” Disabled American Veterans National Commander John Donovan said in a statement. “Veterans risked their lives to guarantee our right to vote, and those who have the privilege of serving in Congress should have the backbone and decency to openly stand behind their votes, not hide like thieves in the night.” Republicans declared the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act passage a “historic healthcare and benefits expansion,” noting that the bill gets rid of limits for combat wounded veterans, expands mental health options, and improves veteran transition programs. “We have found a pathway to finally get these historic healthcare, benefits, and transformations done at VA for veterans and American families for the first time in years and I am committed to working with the Senate to get this bill over the finish line and to the president’s desk before the end of the year,” House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.) [said in a statement](). The legislative package would implement a [rule change proposed by the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2022]() for how sleep apnea and tinnitus disability ratings are assessed. Both health conditions would lose their current stand-alone ratings. Sleep apnea would be assessed based “on the effectiveness of medical treatment and intervention,” and tinnitus would be treated as a symptom of an underlying condition, like hearing loss or a traumatic brain injury. According to the [VA’s analysis]() for the proposed 2022 rule, the changes could reduce disability compensation payments by $57 billion over the next 10 years. The package also includes the [Maj. Richard Star Act](), which is named after [an Army reserve major who died of burn pit-exposure-linked lung cancer](). The bill overturns current [“double dipping” payment]() restrictions and allows combat-wounded veterans to receive both disability benefits and retirement pay. Congressional [estimates indicate]() that the bill could cost $13 billion over the next decade. In his reaction to the House’s voice vote Wednesday, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), said that he was ready to pass a “clean” version of the Major Richard Star Act. On Thursday, the House passed the Richard Star Act again, but this time as a stand-alone bill. Before it can become law, the Senate will also need to pass one of the two versions of the Maj. Richard Star Act. A Senate aide familiar with proceedings said they expect the large legislative package to fail because it would need [60 votes to pass]() the legislative body, which would require some Democrats to also sign on. In June, 45 Democrats [signed a letter]() indicating that they would not support the offsets included in the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act. ## Author Patty is a senior reporter for Task & Purpose. She's reported on the military for six years, embedding with the National Guard during a hurricane and covering Guantanamo Bay legal proceedings for an alleged al Qaeda commander. Her previous bylines can be found at the *Associated Press*, *Bloomberg Government*, *Washington Post*, *The New York Times*, and *ABC*. You can reach Patty by email at [Patty.Nieberg@taskandpurpose.com](). ### Author social links [Twitter]() [LinkedIn]() ## More - [Divisive veterans benefits bill stalls in the House]() - [A congressional fight over VA benefits is dividing veterans groups]() - [Veterans disability bill could cut tinnitus compensation to fund other benefits]() - [Senator blocks veterans benefits bill over cost in ‘dollars and cents’]() - [‘Double-dipping’ controversy bars injured and ill vets from getting full benefits]() - [Exclusive: Congress Is Quietly Trying To Pass A ‘GI Bill 3.0’ By Memorial Day]() - [Bill would cover ‘Forever Chemical’ exposure at bases under VA benefits]() - [Disabled Veterans Picked Up A Major Travel Benefit In The Latest Defense Bill]()