Larsen Votes No on Cutting Veterans’ Benefits and Increasing Fees

This press release from Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA) was published on 2026-07-16 and titled "Larsen Votes No on Cutting Veterans’ Benefits and Increasing Fees".

Larsen Votes No on Cutting Veterans’ Benefits and Increasing Fees

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: "The so-called Take Care of America’s Veterans Act cuts benefits and raises fees on future veterans. I cannot support that. Congress should be focused on breaking down barriers that prevent veterans from receiving the benefits they need, not creating more. “I continue to support the Major Richard Star Act to correct the unfair offset in benefits for combat-injured veterans. I call on Speaker Johnson to bring it to the floor for a vote.” Today, Rep. Larsen voted “no” on the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA). The bill cuts an estimated $57 billion in disability compensation over the next 10 years for future veterans with tinnitus and sleep apnea, two of the most common conditions among veterans. The bill would also triple fees on veterans refinancing their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans at a time when Americans are already struggling to afford housing. Larsen Continues to Fight for Veterans in Northwest Washington In his time in Congress, Rep. Larsen has hosted more than 70 forums to hear directly from Northwest Washington state veterans about their needs, including five roundtables in September 2025. Following those conversations, he published ‘ Listening to Veterans in Northwest Washington ,’ a report capturing local veterans’ most pressing challenges and outlining policy recommendations for Congress and VA to address these concerns. Rep. Larsen submitted this report to the VA and House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (HVAC) to ensure Northwest Washington veterans’ voices are heard in the policy-making process. After hearing from local veterans about the lack of transportation options to VA health facilities, Rep. Larsen introduced the Veterans Access to Transit Act last December to establish a Department of Transportation (DOT) pilot program to provide veterans with public transportation to VA facilities and veterans organizations. Rep. Larsen’s BUILD America 250 Act , which passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in May, makes funding available to provide veterans with public transportation to VA facilities and veterans organizations, like the Everett and Mount Vernon Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Last August, Rep. Larsen reintroduced the Veteran Families Health Services Act , which would expand the fertility treatments and family-building services that are covered under servicemembers’ and veterans’ health care . Rep. Larsen also introduced the Mammography Access for Veterans Act this February, which would expand veterans’ access to lifesaving breast cancer screenings through the VA. ###