VFW Advocacy

1. VFW Action Alert: Tell Congress to Oppose Veterans' Benefit Cuts

   Congress has introduced the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, legislation that includes many provisions the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has fought for and supports.

   But there is a serious problem.

   To pay for those benefits, Congress would codify previously proposed VA disability rating cuts for tinnitus and sleep apnea. According to VA's own estimates, these changes could reduce disability compensation payments by approximately $57 billion over 10 years and affect up to 1.5 million veterans.

   Let's be clear. Those savings do not come from waste, fraud, abuse, or bureaucracy. They come directly from veterans.

   That is $57 billion that would no longer help veterans pay mortgages, put food on the table, cover medical expenses, support their families, or support local communities across America.

   We do not want this fight.

   Many of the benefits in this bill are priorities that the VFW has worked for years to achieve. But we cannot support paying for those benefits by taking compensation away from other veterans.

   And we cannot allow Congress to establish a dangerous precedent. If veterans' disability compensation becomes an acceptable funding source today, it will become easier to use it again tomorrow.

   The VFW refuses to accept the idea that one group of veterans must lose so another group of veterans can win. Veterans' benefits are not charity. They are an earned obligation of the nation and part of the promise made through military service. Congress should Honor the Contract.

   A grateful nation pays its debts to veterans - it does not send them the invoice.

   TAKE ACTION:Tell Congress to remove the disability compensation offset provisions from the Take Care of America's Veterans Act and find a funding solution that does not come at the expense of veterans and their families.

2. VFW Strongly Opposes Disability Benefit Cuts Included in Proposed Take Care of America's Veterans Act

   WASHINGTON - The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) stands defiant in its opposition against provisions contained within the proposed Take Care of America's Veterans Act, H.R. 9237 and S. 4744, which would offset the cost of expanding benefits for combat-injured veterans by cutting disability compensation and health care access for future generations of disabled veterans.

   "The VFW strongly opposes the Take Care of America's Veterans Act as currently drafted because it asks future disabled veterans to bear the cost of expanding benefits through changing the VA rating schedule for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea which are common conditions associated with combat poly trauma," said VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore. "We have long maintained that veterans' benefits are an earned obligation of the nation, a promise made through the military service contract, and should not be financed through offsets, fee increases or reductions that place additional burdens on veterans, military families and survivors."

   According to VA estimates, these changes could reduce disability compensation payments by approximately $57 billion over ten years and affect up to 1.5 million veterans. The VFW vehemently rejects these provisions not only because they would unfairly penalize disabled veterans, but also because they set a dangerous precedent by allowing Congress to alter disability ratings for budgetary purposes rather than relying on medical evidence and the established principles of the VA rating schedule.

   "Congress should Honor the Contract and strengthen veterans' programs without creating new costs for those who sacrifice in service to our country," said Whitmore. "A grateful nation pays its debts to veterans; it does not send them the invoice."

   The VFW is urging Congress to remove the disability compensation offset provisions from the legislation and identify alternative funding mechanisms that do not come at the expense of disabled veterans and their families.

   Veterans, service members, family members and supporters are encouraged to contact their elected officials and urge them to oppose the disability compensation offset provisions contained in the bill.

3. 'The Major Richard Star Act is About Fairness'

   From drafting the original version with partners at the Wounded Warrior Project to its ongoing advocacy in Congress, VFW remains committed to passing the Major Richard Star Act.

   Since the introduction of the Star Act in 2021, VFW's stance has not wavered. Through its National Legislative Service (NLS) on Capitol Hill, the country's oldest veterans organization aims to restore full retirement pay for combat-injured veterans.

   "The VFW has fought for years to end the unjust practice of offsetting military retirement pay for combat-disabled veterans," VFW NLS Associate Director Nancy Springer said. "The Major Richard Star Act is about fairness. No veteran who was wounded in service should be forced to give up retirement benefits because of the injuries they sustained defending our country."

   Under current law, veterans who served fewer than 20 years as a result of their combat-related injuries are ineligible for full military retirement pay and disability benefits. These veterans have their retirement pay reduced dollar-for-dollar by their disability compensation, an offset that currently affects more than 50,000 combat-injured military retirees.

   To help lawmakers, advocates and the public understand the real impacts of policies on the military community, VFW created a story bank called VFW Voices of Service - Stories in Action. These stories have been, and will continue to be, used in congressional testimony, meetings with lawmakers, reports and media outreach.

   One such story is that of Army veteran Austin Chapman from Michigan, who deployed with the 449th Combat Engineer Company to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2012-13.

   That year would change the course of his life.

   As a medic stationed at Outpost Ouellette near Camp Leatherneck and assigned to a route clearance platoon, Chapman's responsibilities included responding to and treating his teammates, Afghan soldiers and coalition partners.

   "It also meant witnessing the realities of sustained combat," Chapman said. "I saw loss across multiple forces and nations. Those experiences stay with you long after you return home."

   During his time in Afghanistan, Chapman's platoon encountered about 90 IEDs, of which 36 detonated. He was involved in firefights and awarded the Combat Medical Badge for his service.

   "I did not leave Helmand uninjured," Chapman said. "I lost hearing in one ear, have nerve damage and live with PTSD. I returned with asthma that has been medically connected to burn-pit exposure. These injuries were not obvious at the moment. They became clear over time, and they are permanent."

   After he left the military with his combat-related injuries, Chapman fell in line with the process most veterans are expected to follow as they transition to civilian life. He pursued an education, built a civilian career and started a family of his own.

   "I did not expect special treatment," Chapman said. "I expected fairness."

   What Chapman did not understand until later was that because of his injuries, he would be required to give up a portion of his earned military retirement pay due to his VA disability compensation, the issue addressed by the Star Act.

   "In civilian life, no pension is reduced because someone was injured on the job," Chapman said. "Veterans are the only group asked to accept this kind of trade-off . For me, this is not an abstract policy discussion. It affects how I plan for my family's future and how I think about long-term stability. It sends a quiet message that injuries sustained in service are treated as a financial offset rather than as a responsibility owed to the veteran."

   Army veterans William Piel of Virginia and Michael Bryant of Florida share similar concerns.

   Piel, who deployed to Afghanistan with A Co., 2nd Bn., 28th Inf., 172nd Inf. Bgde., out of Graffenwoer, Germany, was blown up by an IED during his third and final tour in 2012.

   "I was halfway through what was intended to be a 20-year career," Piel said. "I have reinvented myself and become an ER nurse, but if I were able to receive the retirement I bled for, I wouldn't have to work extra shifts and could spend that time with my family."

   Like Piel and Chapman, Bryant was medically retired after accrued combat-related injuries stemming from four tours that included deployments to Iraq in 2003 and 2007, Afghanistan in 2010, and Djibouti in 2013.

   "Nothing would have made me prouder than to serve my country for 20 to 30 years, to become an old cranky sergeant major," Bryant said. "However, that dream was taken from me when I was forced to medically retire and then forced to choose between my disability pay and my military pension. This inability to draw both my pension and my disability has caused me countless financial difficulties since I retired 12 years ago."

   This problem currently impacts more than 50,000 military retirees with combat injuries, with Bryant, Piel and Chapman being examples.

   "Passing the Richard Star Act would not be charity," Chapman said. "It would be the fulfillment of a promise. Veterans injured in service should not be forced to choose which part of their service counts - all of it counts."

   If you would like to share your story with respect to the passage of the Star Act, please scan the QR code on this page or click here. Your experiences help show how decisions made by lawmakers affect real
   lives.

   This article is featured in the 2026 May/June issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Ismael Rodriguez Jr., associate editor for VFW magazine.

4. 'We Are Not Going to Stop This Fight'

   At 9:30 a.m. on March 3, 30 minutes before VFW Commander-in-Chief Carol Whitmore was set to give her testimony to members of Congress, office staffers began to dig through nearby storage rooms for additional chairs. The G50 room of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., was filled with members of VFW, ready to amplify Whitmore's message: "Honor the Contract. Pass the Major Richard Star Act now."

   The Major Richard Star Act, designed to ensure all veterans who sustained injuries from combat receive full, earned benefits from the Departments of Defense (DoD) and VA, would be blocked later that day by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), after the bill was brought to the Senate floor. His reasoning: "We simply cannot afford it."

   It is this outcome that drives VFW to continue its decades-long legacy of advocating for veterans on Capitol Hill at the VFW Washington Conference.

   VFW members around the country come together to share their personal stories with lawmakers about bureaucratic roadblocks they have encountered as veterans, in hopes that a solution can be found so that others will not have to encounter them.

   This year, VFW consolidated its message to lawmakers into the following talking points:

   • Community Care Reform (Veterans' Access Act of 2025 and Foreign Medical Program Modernization Act of 2025)
   • Concurrent Receipt Reform (Maj. Richard Star Act)
   • Suicide Prevention (Written Informed Consent Act and Veteran Suicide Prevention Act)
   • Brain Health Care (Innovative Therapies Centers of Excellence Act of 2025, Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act, Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2025 and Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act)
   • Other areas of concern include cracking down on predatory claims companies, transition from service, Post-9/11 G.I. Bill book stipends and emerging toxic exposures.

   'I CAME HOME WITH INJURIES YOU CAN'T SEE'
   In 2003, VFW National Legislative Committee member and past VFW Department of Louisiana Commander Matt West was involved in an ammunition dump explosion that resulted in traumatic brain injury. In 2005, while serving in Iraq, West's vehicle was hit with an IED that resulted in further brain injury.

   "Like a lot of veterans from those wars, I came home with injuries you can't see," West said during the general session, before VFW members began their visits to Capitol Hill.

   West, along with other VFW Department of Louisiana officers, met with Louisiana legislative assistants and policy staff in a joint meeting inside the U.S. Capitol. There, they shared stories relating to each of VFW's talking points and to communicate their frustration with the Major Richard Star Act being blocked.

   "We need the Major Richard Star Act passed," West said. "What happened today is an injustice for all veterans. We are not going to stop this fight."

   West also shared his story of sustaining brain trauma from his experiences while serving, calling on a need for coordinated brain health care and continued investment into brain trauma research.

   "Modernizing VA brain health care is not about bypassing modern scientific standards," West said. "It is about ensuring the VA has the research infrastructure and clinical capacity to successfully evaluate veterans."

   'WE'RE ALL OVERMEDICATED'
   VFW National Legislative Committee member Staci Boyer of Illinois has long been an advocate for women who served. Boyer, along with VFW Department of Illinois Commander Eugene Blackwell and VFW National Council of Administration member Matt Clausen, visited the offices of Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) and Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) Boyer, Blackwell and Clausen were all greeted by Ramirez in her office, where they had a chance to share their stories and VFW's objectives one on one.

   The group also met one of Underwood's staffers, Danielle Floyd.

   Boyer praised Underwood's dedication to veterans by being a co-sponsor of the Major Richard Star Act, as well as being very familiar with one of VFW's objectives: written informed consent.

   "We're all overmedicated," Clausen expressed to Floyd. "Before you know it, you're taking 20 pills a day that are all interacting with each other. We're asking that veterans are notified, by written consent, to know what the benefits and risks of the drugs are."

   Air Force veteran and VFW National Legislative Committee member Eric Dudash of Alabama represents one case of a veteran who could have benefited greatly from written informed consent.

   "For 30 years on active duty, I lived by a simple principle: trust the experts," Dudash said during a group meeting. "I trusted the men and women beside me to do their jobs, just as they trusted me to do mine. So when I began seeking medical care, I carried that same mindset with me."

   Dudash was continually prescribed medication from doctors, evolving from 10 pills a day into 20 pills and, eventually, into 32 different medications.

   "One night, and I hadn't even realized it, I was so sedated my wife had to wipe drool off my face," Dudash explained to Alabama legislative aide Stone Griffin. "Written informed consent will make it clear how each pill might affect you, and how each pill might affect each other."

   COVERAGE FOR ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS
   In her meetings with Illinois legislative staff, Boyer stressed the importance of alternative treatments for veterans being covered by the VA.

   "We need the VA to cover the benefits of having alternative treatments, not just pills," she said.

   VFW Department of Alabama Senior Vice Commander Colt Drouillard explained how he benefited greatly from Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) shots, which are minimally-invasive treatments that help reduce the "fight-or-flight" response, one alternative treatment to PTSD.

   "It was a game-changer for me," Drouillard explained to Grif f in. "I wouldn't be here talking to you today if I hadn't taken that shot. It's FDA approved, very simple to have done and should be covered under VA."

   The VFW Washington Conference gives veterans the platform to have their voices heard. Each day during the conference, VFW legislative members from each of the 50 states met with their respective House and Senate members, sharing stories similar to that of West, Dudash and Drouillard. According to VFW Auxiliary member and Gold Star wife Gabriella Kubinyi, it is the stories that have the power to move lawmakers the most.

   This article is featured in the 2026 May/June issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Danny Cook, senior writer for VFW magazine.

5. VFW Highlights Importance of Mental Health This National PTSD Awareness Month

   KANSAS CITY, Mo. -June 1 marks the start of National PTSD Awareness Month, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is reminding America's military and veteran community that you are never alone.

   Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a profound and lasting response to a single or multiple highly stressful events, many of which can be found in military service. For some, it is a mental and emotional injury borne from service to one's country, and while the wounds of war are often invisible, their impacts on veterans, families and communities are deeply felt. When left unaddressed PTSD can lead to severe isolation, but the VFW is working to ensure no veteran navigates the darkness by themselves.

   "Asking for support is not waving a white flag, it is a tactical decision to stay in the fight for your family, your future and your life," said VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore. "In the VFW, we do not leave our fallen on the battlefield, and we sure as hell don't leave our brothers- and sisters-in-arms behind at home. Our Posts exist to be safe harbors of genuine camaraderie and trust where you can speak freely, without judgement, and be among those who have walked the same dirt."

   The VFW continues its advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, fighting to expand VA's mental health care tools and programs, including moving beyond standard treatment options, championing written, informed consent, and eliminating the administrative red tape so veterans in rural and underserved areas can access mental health specialists without delay.

   Throughout June, the VFW encourages all veterans, their families and communities to:

   • Educate and Recognize: Learn the signs of PTSD and how to better support the veterans in your life.
   • Break the Silence: Foster open, compassionate conversations about mental wellness so we can break down the outdated stigmas that keep someone from seeking help.
   • Offer Connection: Reach out and check on your battle buddies. A simple call or visit can help bridge the gap of isolation.
   • Share Lifelines: Keep vital resources visible. If you or a veteran you know is in crisis, call or text the Veterans Crisis Line (Dial 988 then Press 1; text 838255 or chat online), learn about VA's PTSD programs or connect with your local VFW Posts.

   For nearly 127 years, we have championed the rights of those who have fought for our liberty, and this June, the more than 1.3 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary reaffirm our solemn pledge to Honor the Contract of their service. As part of the less than 1% of Americans willing to serve and sacrifice for something greater than yourselves, those burdens are not something we will let you carry alone.