Blumenthal Statement on House Republicans' Secretive Effort to Cut Veterans Benefits on Veterans Day

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), incoming Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today released the following statement after House Republicans abused House procedure to pass the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act by voice vote on Veterans Day. This controversial veterans’ legislation would cut nearly $57 billion in veterans’ benefits for veterans with sleep apnea and tinnitus. “House Republicans resorted to a blatant abuse of established procedure—bypassing a fair vote—to sneak the biggest cut to veterans’ benefits in American history. This disrespect and deduction to well-deserved disability compensation is totally unacceptable, most especially on Veterans Day. Such secretive and shameful tactics are condemnable. Make no mistake—their disgusting slash to veterans’ benefits will be defeated in the Senate.” In July, House Republicans cancelled a planned vote on the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act , following a bipartisan House vote to replace the Republican benefit cuts with a proposal to utilize unobligated Department of Defense funds. Congressional Democrats and Veterans Service Organizations have publicly opposed the Republican funding proposal included in the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act . -30-