Washington, D.C. is a place where a thousand words can be spoken, but still fail to provide an accurate picture. Flowery speeches, lofty rhetoric and “sloganeering” often lead to smokescreens, masking what’s going on beneath the surface.
I recall a notable exception from my service on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Our chairman, Rep. Bob Stump (R-Arizona), a WWII Veteran, was a man of few words who simply “cut to the chase.”
Accordingly, one of our subcommittees was known by a simple, direct one-word name that accurately described both its jurisdiction and mission: “Benefits.”
As the chairman of that subcommittee in the 107th Congress, I remember that while no one disputed the need for our nation’s Veterans to enjoy the benefits they had been promised, debates arose on the best way to deliver them.
Fast-forward to the new 119th Congress, where subcommittee names have changed, but the philosophical fault line remains the same.
“Healthcare decisions are deeply personal, and they should be made by veterans themselves,” said Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Illinois) at the Committee’s first oversight hearing on January 22.
“When V.A. inserts itself as the sole decision maker and plays politics with veterans’ health, people get hurt,” he concluded.
President Trump’s new Secretary of Veterans Affairs—former Rep. Doug Collins (R-Georgia), still a Colonel in the Air Force Reserve Command, as a Chaplain— is in a unique position to invite the different stakeholders to “come and reason together.”
Secretary Collins has a real opportunity to bring much needed change to the VA that has been failing our veterans for too long. One of his first priorities should be to fix the current backlog of VA disability claims that currently stands at more than 250,000 Veterans waiting for decisions on the benefits they earned serving their country.
Critics claim the current system is a “Big Government - VSO racket,” weighted against veteran-owned small businesses and Veterans as a whole. They say this because both have been trying to criminalize anyone trying to assist Veterans with benefits claims unless they are “accredited” by the VA, a certification that’s essentially closed to outside competition.
Just as America and Americans have changed over time, so too have veterans. Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) have changed also. Not only have they dabbled in “wokeness” in recent years, a mindset unthinkable for most older veterans, they’ve encountered a “demographic drain,” as there are fewer vets around than in previous generations. And younger vets pursue different associations. Few hang around the local VFW or American Legion these days, so income from membership dues isn’t sufficient.
As non-profits, VSOs still seek public donations for helping veterans, as they should. However, the fewer the veterans they help, the fewer donations they will earn.
Don’t misunderstand…VSOs and the Department of Veterans Affairs still play a prominent role in assisting those who have “worn the uniform.” It’s just that the one-size-fits-all business model must yield to individual freedom for Veterans. Moreover, outlawing your competition isn’t the American way. Or at least it shouldn’t be.
That’s why the substance of a current proposed bill —drafted during the last Congress—holds promise. The PLUS Act called for a reasonable path to accreditation for those outside the VSOs and speciality law firms inside the beltway.
Secretary Collins proved himself as a fighter on the House Judiciary Committee during the height of the Russiagate Collusion Hoax, which attempted to derail President Trump’s first term. He’s fought nastier opponents than those now trying to outlaw veteran-owned small businesses and won’t be intimidated. President Trump will expect nothing less.
Confirmed by a truly bipartisan 77-23 Senate margin, he has a mandate to assure that the accreditation vetting process is fast and efficient, so small businesses can qualify without years of red tape or exorbitant legal fees.
Throughout our history, America’s Veterans have been willing to “stand in the breach” and defend our nation, our citizens, and our way of life. They deserve our full support.
J.D. Hayworth represented Arizona in the U.S. House from 1995-2007. He served as Chairman of the Benefits Subcommittee of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee in the 107th Congress.