A divisive veterans package cleared the House on Veterans Day, drawing condemnation from Democrats and veterans groups over provisions affecting disability benefits for sleep apnea and tinnitus. The legislation also provides expanded compensation for combat wounded veterans.

The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act combines dozens of bills into one large package. Veteran Service Organizations said the contested policies would cut benefits for veterans with sleep apnea and tinnitus ratings, using those savings as an offset for benefits provided to combat wounded veterans.

The House approved the package through a voice vote, with members calling out “aye” or “no” rather than having their individual positions officially recorded under their names. Democrats and veterans advocates sharply criticized House Republicans over both the timing and the voting method.

“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.”

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Republicans portrayed the bill very differently, declaring its passage a “historic healthcare and benefits expansion.” They pointed to provisions eliminating restrictions for combat wounded veterans, expanding mental health options and improving programs designed to help veterans transition.

“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 package would implement a rule change proposed by the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2022 concerning how disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus are assessed. Under the proposal, both conditions would lose their existing standalone ratings.

Sleep apnea would instead be evaluated based “on the effectiveness of medical treatment and intervention.” Tinnitus would be handled as a symptom of an underlying condition, such as hearing loss or a traumatic brain injury.

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The VA’s analysis of the proposed 2022 rule found that the changes could reduce disability compensation payments by $57 billion over the following 10 years. Veterans organizations have opposed using those reductions to offset the cost of another veterans benefit.

The legislative package also contains the Maj. Richard Star Act, named for an Army reserve major who died from lung cancer linked to burn pit exposure. That measure would remove current restrictions and allow combat wounded veterans to receive disability benefits and retirement pay.

Congressional estimates indicate that the Maj. Richard Star Act could cost $13 billion over the next decade. The broader package pairs that expansion with the contested disability rating changes affecting veterans with sleep apnea and tinnitus.

Following Wednesday’s House voice vote, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) said he was prepared to pass a “clean” version of the Maj. Richard Star Act. His response separated support for the combat wounded veterans measure from the disputed offsets.

The House passed the Richard Star Act again on Thursday, this time as a standalone bill. Before the policy can become law, the Senate must also approve one of the two House passed versions containing the measure.

A Senate aide familiar with the proceedings said the large legislative package is expected to fail because it would need 60 votes to clear the chamber. Reaching that threshold would require some Democrats to support the bill.

In June, 45 Democrats signed a letter indicating that they would not support the offsets contained in the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act. That opposition now hangs over the package as House Republicans seek Senate action before the end of the year.

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