“I don't want this veterans bill to pass. It cuts benefits for some veterans to pay for others. I think that is wrong. The bill is very long. It has many parts I don't like. Many veterans groups also don't like this bill. They think it is wrong to take from some veterans to give to others. I agree with them. There are some good things in the bill. But I don't like the bad things. So I don't support the bill. I think the other side only wants to cut veteran benefits. They spend a lot of money on other things. But they say we need to cut veteran benefits. I don't understand why. I don't think they should do that.”
What they said. What they meant.
Plain-language translations from Congress.
Recent debates
8 latest topics
Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026
13 statements
Moment of Silence in Honor of the 25th Anniversary of September 11
2 statements
Honoring Former U.S. Representative Charles Hatcher of Georgia
2 statements
Recognizing Firefighters from California's Third Congressional District
17 statements
Saluting White Plains Beautification Foundation
2 statements
Celebrating Rural Lawyer Julie Bear
4 statements
Operation Midway Blitz Anniversary
2 statements
Catherine Watts Celebrates 100th Birthday
4 statements
House of Representatives
Take Care of America's Veterans Act
“I don't want to cut veterans' benefits. That's bad. I want to spend more money on veterans. I want the government to keep studying this. I don't like the other side's bill. It's bad. I want to keep spending more on veterans. I think that's good. The other side is wrong. I want to fight them.”
“I want more spending on a program for moms and babies. Breastfeeding is good. Veteran moms should have good places to breastfeed at VA medical centers. Some centers don't have good spaces for that now. That's bad. My bill will make them have good spaces.”
“I want to show you that some groups don't like this bill. I have letters from these groups. They don't want this bill to pass.”
“You said the VA will change disability ratings. I want you to tell me who at the VA said that. Tell me the name.”
“You say the VA Secretary will make big cuts. I don't believe you. He backed down before when people complained. I want you to prove what you say.”
“I don't believe you. Show me a name. You can't. I think you want to cut veterans' benefits. That's not right. I defy you.”
“I don't like this bill. It cuts benefits for veterans. It makes their home loans more expensive. It gives more care to the private sector. I don't want that. I don't want to cut care or benefits for veterans. The people who support this bill spend a lot on war. They gave tax breaks to the rich. It added to the debt. Now they want to cut benefits for veterans. That's not right. I want to send this bill back to committee. I want to change the bill. I don't want to cut benefits. I want to use unspent money from a different bill instead.”
“Many people don't want this bill. Veterans don't want this bill. It will cut benefits. I want to find another way to pay for it. We need to be brave and do what is right.”
“I am against this bill. It will cut money for veterans. It is bad. The government should spend more money on veterans. They should stop spending money on war instead.”
“You want to spend a lot of money without offsets. But you want veterans to pay for their own bill. I don't think that's fair. I want you to admit that you treat veterans differently.”
“I don't want to pay for this bill by taking money from other veterans. The Republicans want to spend $95 billion on many other things without an offset. Why should this bill be different? I want the Republicans to be consistent in their rules.”
“This bill will cut benefits for some veterans with sleep apnea and tinnitus. The chairman is wrong. He says it won't do that. But it will. The VA can review and lower ratings. This bill will make current service members ineligible for these benefits. Even if they get hurt now. The Republicans are wrong. They want to treat two veterans with the same condition differently. I don't like that. Republicans don't ask for offsets for other big spending. But they want to cut benefits to pay for this. I want you to vote no.”
“I want you to vote no on this bill. Many veterans don't like it. It will take money from some veterans to pay for other veterans. We should not do that. The government should find other ways to pay for this bill. I don't like pitting veterans against each other. We should not balance budgets on the backs of veterans. We should honor our contract with veterans. I join many veterans who oppose this bill.”