Discussion · House of Representatives
Mark Takano Democrat
“Vote no on this bill. It will cut disability benefits for veterans with sleep apnea and ringing in their ears. It also stops current service members from getting benefits for those same injuries later.”
“I yield myself such time as I may consume. In listening to the chairman today and at the Rules Committee several weeks ago, it is clear to me that he has been picking his words very carefully. He has been very specific that this bill, the so-called Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, would not impair current veterans. I am not sure if the chairman fully understands how the disability benefits system works or if he truly believes what he is saying, but what he is saying isn’t even remotely the full truth. The bill can and will lead to cuts for those who already have service-connected disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus. This is because anytime a veteran applies for a rating increase or applies for a new rating for some other condition, VA can and does review previous ratings, sometimes even lowering them. It is foolish to think that VA won’t apply the new rules for sleep apnea and tinnitus when veterans have their ratings reviewed. Further, his remarks fail to take into consideration two other critically important populations here. First, these cuts would make servicemembers currently serving who may be incurring these injuries right now ineligible to receive compensation for service-connected tinnitus or sleep apnea. Those servicemembers President Trump keeps sending into harm’s way in this foolish war with Iran would be ineligible for these benefits. That should give us all pause. Let me just say a ``yes’’ vote on this bill is a message that we are sending to the servicemembers currently serving in and around the waters of Iran and the Strait of Hormuz and our servicemembers that are stationed at bases who have already faced incoming missile fire and have been subjected to the blasts that have surely affected their eardrums, we are saying to them that they will not be able to apply to make claims based on tinnitus, much less sleep apnea. That is the message a ``yes’’ vote will send to them. That is why I say vote ``no.’’ In addition, the chairman and his colleagues fail to acknowledge that the existing veterans who have yet to file a claim for tinnitus or sleep apnea--I am talking about a group of people not the current servicemembers, but veterans who have yet to apply for a rating--these two groups of veterans, that is, current servicemembers and veterans who have yet to file, will be treated worse than those that came before them. This contract will unilaterally be changed on them and for the worse. How my Republican colleagues are okay with treating two veterans with the same exact condition differently is beyond me. Mr. Speaker, this is the largest cut to veterans’ disability benefits in history being used to pay for this bill when Republicans are not demanding offsets for $95 billion next week. I don’t know how you all can live with yourselves. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”
I yield myself such time as I may consume. In listening to the chairman today and at the Rules Committee several weeks ago, it is clear to me that he has been picking his words very carefully. He has been very specific that this bill, the so-called Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, would not impair current veterans. I am not sure if the chairman fully understands how the disability benefits system works or if he truly believes what he is saying, but what he is saying isn’t even remotely the full truth. The bill can and will lead to cuts for those who already have service-connected disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus. This is because anytime a veteran applies for a rating increase or applies for a new rating for some other condition, VA can and does review previous ratings, sometimes even lowering them. It is foolish to think that VA won’t apply the new rules for sleep apnea and tinnitus when veterans have their ratings reviewed. Further, his remarks fail to take into consideration two other critically important populations here. First, these cuts would make servicemembers currently serving who may be incurring these injuries right now ineligible to receive compensation for service-connected tinnitus or sleep apnea. Those servicemembers President Trump keeps sending into harm’s way in this foolish war with Iran would be ineligible for these benefits. That should give us all pause. Let me just say a ``yes’’ vote on this bill is a message that we are sending to the servicemembers currently serving in and around the waters of Iran and the Strait of Hormuz and our servicemembers that are stationed at bases who have already faced incoming missile fire and have been subjected to the blasts that have surely affected their eardrums, we are saying to them that they will not be able to apply to make claims based on tinnitus, much less sleep apnea. That is the message a ``yes’’ vote will send to them. That is why I say vote ``no.’’ In addition, the chairman and his colleagues fail to acknowledge that the existing veterans who have yet to file a claim for tinnitus or sleep apnea--I am talking about a group of people not the current servicemembers, but veterans who have yet to apply for a rating--these two groups of veterans, that is, current servicemembers and veterans who have yet to file, will be treated worse than those that came before them. This contract will unilaterally be changed on them and for the worse. How my Republican colleagues are okay with treating two veterans with the same exact condition differently is beyond me. Mr. Speaker, this is the largest cut to veterans’ disability benefits in history being used to pay for this bill when Republicans are not demanding offsets for $95 billion next week. I don’t know how you all can live with yourselves. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.