House passes sweeping veterans benefits bill with polarizing tactic

The House passed a major veterans benefits package on Wednesday, advancing new support for surviving spouses and caregivers, as well as expanded compensation for some disabled retirees, while — controversially — tying the legislation’s financing to changes to future benefits. The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act passed by voice vote on Veterans Day without a recorded tally of how individual lawmakers voted. The package includes more than 60 provisions, but its most contentious measure would change how the Department of Veterans Affairs rates sleep apnea and tinnitus, potentially reducing future disability compensation for some veterans. The funding approach has divided veterans organizations that support many of the bill’s benefit expansions but disagree over whether veterans’ future benefits should help pay for them.

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