Blumenthal Highlights Importance of Veterans' Advocacy Following Republicans' Block of Benefits for Combat-Injured Veterans

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - At a joint Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and House Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing with Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) today, Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) highlighted the importance of veterans' advocacy in producing legislative results and emphasized his commitment to passing the Major Richard Star Act after it was blocked yesterday by U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI). Veterans Service Organizations have continuously cited the legislation as their top policy priority and called on lawmakers to advance the bill during hearings this week and last week.

"Yesterday, I went to the floor of the United States Senate and asked for unanimous consent to pass the Major Richard Star Act. Unfortunately, it was blocked. I asked, as a fall back, for a simple vote on the bill before August, it was blocked as well," said Blumenthal. "…The Chairman just talked about promises. Promises are meaningless unless they are kept. We made a promise to these veterans that they would receive both retirement and disability benefits. We owe them both, and I promise you I will not stop fighting until we pass the Richard Star Act in this Congress.

Senate Republicans have blocked two attempts from Blumenthal to advance the bipartisan legislation to deliver more than 50,000 combat-injured veterans their full military benefits. Yesterday, Senator Johnson (R-WI) blocked Blumenthal's motion to pass the legislation and a compromise motion to set up a single vote on the bill before August saying "we simply cannot afford it." Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) also previously blocked attempts from Blumenthal to advance this legislation in October-denying the bill's 77 cosponsors a vote.

The Major Richard Star Act is legislation to deliver medically retired combat-injured veterans their full Department of Defense (DOD) retirement and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability payments, which is currently subject to a dollar-for-dollar reduction. It has widespread bipartisan support with 77 co-sponsors in the Senate and 316 co-sponsors in the House.

Blumenthal also stressed the importance of veterans' voices in pushing back against the Trump Adminsitration's maligned workforce policies at VA. This follows recent reporting from The New York Times revealing how the Administration has cut thousands of roles for doctors and nurses at VA after its employees left in droves due to the Administration's toxic culture and draconian policies: "…At our hearing last month, Secretary Collins said the VA needs more doctors. And yet, he has eliminated thousands of positions and jobs. We need your help. We need your advocacy. We need your voices and your faces. Which is why it's so important you're here today so that we can maintain, restore, and even grow the numbers of doctors, nurses, counselors, psychiatrists. All of the team, at VA health care that is so important to make sure that we have sufficient workforce to serve the needs of our veterans."

The full text of Blumenthal's opening is copied below.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. and thank you to Commander Wiley and the American Legion leadership who are here today. I am a proud member in Connecticut. I know we have some Connecticut members here. Welcome to you and thanks for visiting with me yesterday. Your perspectives and your advocacy are invaluable to what we do. You are the reason that we have the PACT Act today, just to take one example.

Yesterday, I went to the floor of the United States Senate and asked for unanimous consent to pass the Major Richard Star Act. Unfortunately, it was blocked. I asked, as a fall back, for a simple vote on the bill before August, it was blocked as well. The individual senator blocking unanimous consent is part of a small minority in the United States Senate. The vast, bipartisan majority of my colleagues support the Richard Star Act, because they know it is unacceptable that tens of thousands of combat injured veterans are denied the full military benefits they deserve. The Chairman just talked about promises. Promises are meaningless unless they are kept. We made a promise to these veterans that they would receive both retirement and disability benefits. We owe them both, and I promise you I will not stop fighting until we pass the Richard Star Act in this Congress. And I want to add that support for it is bipartisan. I thank the chairman, Senator Moran, for his support, as well as others on this committee, including the House Ranking Member, Mr. Takano.

Yesterday, the New York Times published an article entitled: "Despite Promises, Veterans' Affairs Department Cut Thousands of Roles for Doctors and Nurses." In fact, thousands of positions have been left vacant. The numbers of doctors and nurses positions, has declined by significant percentages, which is a disservice to all of you here, and the many, many veterans around the United States who depend on the VA for their medical care. At our hearing last month, Secretary Collins said the VA needs more doctors. And yet, he has eliminated thousands of positions and jobs. We need your help. We need your advocacy. We need your voices and your faces. Which is why it's so important you're here today so that we can maintain, restore, and even grow the numbers of doctors, nurses, counselors, psychiatrists. All of the team, at VA healthcare that is so important to make sure that we have sufficient workforce to serve the needs of our veterans. Our veterans deserve nothing less than the best, world-class medicine. Thank you all for being here today.

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