Senate Democrats Reject GOP Plan to Fund Veterans Bill With Cuts for Millions
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 15
Senate Democrats Reject GOP Plan to Fund Veterans Bill With Cuts for Millions
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 15
Summary
Forty-six Senate Democrats said the Republican funding plan for the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act lacks the votes to clear the Senate because it would cut disability benefits tied to tinnitus and sleep apnea.
The dispute centers on how to pay for the package of nearly 60 veterans bills, which House Republicans are moving this week and which includes bipartisan priorities such as the Major Richard Star Act.
Democrats said the proposed offset would slash benefits for millions of disabled veterans and argued Republicans are applying budget-cut demands selectively after backing $3.4 trillion in tax cuts without offsets.
They offered alternatives instead, pointing to nearly $100 billion in unobligated Defense Department funds or restoring the 39.6% tax rate for people earning more than $25 million.
The standoff threatens to delay a veterans package both parties say they want, testing whether the traditionally bipartisan Veterans’ Affairs committees can repeat the PACT Act model without cutting existing benefits.