This week, the Senate failed to move forward in its consideration of the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act (S.1982). This legislation includes numerous provisions that if passed would improve the benefits and services available to veterans with disabilities and their families.
Forward momentum on the bill was stopped as Senate Republicans raised concerns about the legislation’s price tag and Senate Democrats barred any Republican amendments. Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has told veterans organizations that he intends to keep fighting for the bill’s provisions. VetsFirst is disappointed that Senate politics interfered with a substantive debate that could have led to bipartisan passage of needed health and benefits legislation.
VetsFirst will work with the Senate to support alternative roads to passage for the many needed provisions of S.1982.