Congress should act to care for veterans before the election

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Since the founding of our republic, Americans have understood that freedom is never free. Generation after generation, brave men and women have stepped forward to defend our nation, preserve our liberties, and uphold the ideals that make America exceptional.

In return, our country has sought to honor their service through public recognition, earned benefits, and a lasting commitment to their well-being. This enduring covenant between a grateful nation and those who have borne the burden of its defense reflects one of our most fundamental American values: that the sacrifices made in service to our country must never be forgotten.

After all, without America’s veterans and service members, there is no America.

Congress has the opportunity to recognize that fact and mark the nation’s 250th anniversary by honoring veterans in a meaningful way by passing the newly introduced Take Care of America’s Veterans Act and send it to the president’s desk.

They should do so before the legislative window closes ahead of the midterms.

The legislation would fulfill the promise Abraham Lincoln made to care for those who “have borne the battle;” a promise that we still are bound to keep today.

At its core, this bill finishes the job the VA MISSION Act started. It would codify community care access standards, strengthen accountability around wait times and referrals, improve transparency for veterans navigating their care options, and modernize the system with tools like self-scheduling and better tracking of referrals and appeals.

It would also improve access to mental health care, elevate innovation in care delivery, and create a stronger policy feedback loop to help the VA better serve veterans over time.

The Biden administration found ways to manipulate the community care access standards, so more specific legislation is necessary. The Veterans’ ACCESS Act, included in this new legislative package, writes access standards into law, ensuring there is no gray area for VA bureaucrats or administrations to take advantage of. Among other things, it expands access to timely mental health care, eliminating the need for those struggling to jump through lengthy referral hoops to get care.

There should be nothing controversial about making it easier for veterans to access care, holding the VA accountable, and making good on the promises already made. Too often, veterans hear strong rhetoric on the campaign trail only to see meaningful reforms stall when action is required. This bill is a chance to change that.

The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act represent holistic reforms to ensure veterans get the care they need, know their care options, and have a VA focused solely on providing the best possible care.

Many politicians say they want to help veterans. They visit veteran halls and veteran organizations on the campaign trail, include a few heart-felt lines in a stump speech, or stand in front of a background of veterans behind them on a stage. None of those things are inherently wrong, as long as they are followed by action.

This is the moment to follow-through and make good on the promise of this nation to care for those who served. Those are the actions that voters remember at the ballot box come the November midterms.

Will Congress and this administration follow through and honor veterans’ service? Or will they leave this promise unfulfilled and defer responsibility to a future Congress? The men and women who served our country kept their word. Congress should do the same. The time to deliver is now.

Kelly Merkel is director of federal government affairs at Americans for Prosperity, daughter of Vietnam veteran, former civilian in the Office of the Commandant, USMC and wife to a Marine Corps veteran.

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