House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) withdrew a veterans bill from the House floor on Thursday after three Republican representatives voted with Democrats to amend the legislation, which aimed to cut disability compensation for tinnitus and sleep apnea. Representatives Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), and Max Miller (R-OH) supported the amendment to remove the proposed cuts from the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act. Despite potential amendments, the Department of Veterans Affairs may still implement the cuts administratively as they are nearing finalization.
Luna, an Air Force veteran, expressed her concerns on social media, questioning the rationale behind cutting veteran benefits. The House majority is narrow, allowing only four defections, and Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) initially supported the amendment but changed her vote at the last minute. The future of the legislation remains uncertain.
Supporters of the bill voiced their frustrations during the House session, with one member expressing anger over the situation. The proposed cuts, which could affect 1.5 million veterans, are intended to save $57 billion in future disability compensation, while the bill offers only $7.9 billion in new benefits. Proponents argue that the bill modernizes the VA disability system and enhances healthcare access for veterans.