Veterans Benefits Expansion Fails Senate Vote

Federal Veterans Benefits Expansion Blocked by GOP Concerns

A $21 billion bill that proposed to expand veterans benefits at the federal level, from medical care to education opportunities, failed to pass a Senate vote on Thursday, February 27th.

The proposed legislation would have expanded veterans benefits by increasing eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare, opening new VA facilities to serve the veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the aging veteran population, restoring full cost of living increases to military retiree pensions, expanding education programs, and offering reproductive and adoption assistance.

However, Republicans overwhelmingly voted the bill down due to concerns about funding. Democrats that fashioned the bill proposed using a chunk of $1 trillion that had been set aside to fight terrorism over the next 10 years; with military spending being cut, the bill proposed to reroute those funds to serve veterans at home.

American Veterans executive director Stewart Hickey said in a statement that the bill would be “morally irresponsible and fiscally unsound” because of where the funding comes from.

“I don’t know why we have a Congress, why we pass laws that say we’re only going to spend so much money and then we waltz in a few weeks later and spend billions more than we agreed to and, oh, we’ll just waive the budget we just passed,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, who led the Republican resistance.

Democrats accuse Republicans of playing a partisan game. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., blocked all GOP amendments Wednesday, February 26th, because Senate Republicans aimed to include legislation to increase sanctions against Iran. Reid and other Democrats in the Senate claim that blocking the Iranian sanctions led to Republicans voting “no” on a necessary expansion of veterans benefits.

“If you happen to meet a veteran who is trying to get by on $28,000, $30,000, $35,000 a year and you notice that the teeth in his mouth are rotting I want you to go up to that veteran and have the courage, the honesty to tell him that you believe the United States of America does not have the money to take care of his needs,” said Sen. Bernard Sanders, Vermont independent and chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee. “But explain to him why you may have voted for more than $100 billion in tax breaks for the wealthiest.” He also vowed to try the legislation again later.

Establishing a Claim for Veteran’s Benefits through the Social Security Administration

To be entitled to service-connected benefits, a veteran must prove that his disability was the result of military service or medical treatment by the VA hospital and was not the result of his own willful misconduct.

Unlike many actual disabilities, disability ratings determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are not permanent. If you think that an initial disability rating given to you by the VA is too low, there are steps you can take to appeal the decision and have it changed. Likewise, there is also a process in place to address the needs of disabled veterans whose disabilities have grown worse over time.

To talk about your veterans’ disability benefits, your current disability rating, or what our lawyers can accomplish for you contact us today for a free consultation. All veterans’ disability and benefits cases are handled on a contingent fee basis. We receive no attorneys’ fees unless we are able to get your rating and your veterans’ disability payments increased.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Social Security Benefits Claim for Disability, Retirement, or Veterans Benefits

Applying for Social Security Disability or Retirement Insurance can be complex.  However, we understand that you need your benefits and we will put our years of experience to work for you to ensure that you have the representation necessary to actively pursue your claim. Call the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm today to discuss your Veterans Benefits or Supplemental Security Income case today. We will be glad to discuss any questions you may have during our free, confidential consultation. Call the experienced attorneys at the Strom Law Firm at (803)252-4800.