Federal
US Senators
US Representatives
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Call Congressman Mark Alford's Columbia location and ask him to respectfully remove his co-sponsorship of HR-3132.
Columbia District Office
2401 Bernadette Drive
Suite 117
Columbia, MO 65203
Phone: (573) 540-6600
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1. Strategic framing for Post 280 on Federal Issues
Objective: We wanted to equip each member with a clear, credible snapshot of veterans' legislation in the 119th Congress, aligned with VFW national priorities and ready for use with members of Congress, community partners, and the public. vfw-org-hqagarhxahbybyd9.z01.azurefd.net
Key message: Congress is considering a historic volume of veterans' legislation. VFW supports reforms that improve access, fairness, and dignity for veterans and survivors—and opposes efforts that undermine VA as the primary provider of care or weaken earned benefits. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. or VFW vfw-org-hqagarhxahbybyd9.z01.azurefd.net
2. Top priority bills to highlight
Major Richard Star Act – Concurrent receipt
- Bills: H.R. 2102 / S. 1032 – Major Richard Star Act.
- What it does: Ends the offset that forces certain combat‑injured retirees to give up part of their earned DoD retirement when they receive VA disability compensation. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. or VFW GovTrack.us
- Why it matters: Fixes a long‑standing injustice for tens of thousands of combat‑injured veterans who lose retirement pay simply because they were wounded in service. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. or VFW GovTrack.us
- Post 280 message: "Combat‑injured veterans should not have to forfeit retirement they earned just because they were hurt defending this country.”
Caring for Survivors Act – DIC and survivors
- Bills: H.R. 2055 / S. 611 – Caring for Survivors Act of 2025.
- Focus: Improves Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and related survivors benefits, addressing long‑standing inequities for surviving spouses and families. vfw-org-hqagarhxahbybyd9.z01.azurefd.net
- Post 280 message: "When a veteran dies, the benefits should not die with them—survivors deserve fair, modern support.”
Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity
- Bills: H.R. 1423 / S. 649 – Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2025.
- Focus: Ensures Guard and Reserve members receive GI Bill credit for all qualifying service, including training and certain activations, closing gaps between active and reserve components. vfw-org-hqagarhxahbybyd9.z01.azurefd.net
- Post 280 message: "Guard and Reserve service is real service—GI Bill benefits should reflect that.”
3. High‑impact issue clusters
A. Claims, appeals, and communication
Representative bills (House):
- H.R. 1039 – Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act
- H.R. 1228 – Prioritizing Veterans’ Survivors Act
- H.R. 1286 – Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act
- H.R. 1578 – Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025
- H.R. 1741 – Veteran Appeals Transparency Act of 2025
- H.R. 2137 – Review Every Veterans Claim Act of 2025
- H.R. 3835 – Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025
- H.R. 3983 – Veterans Claims Quality Improvement Act of 2025
Representative bills (Senate):
- S. 1657 – Review Every Veteran’s Claim Act of 2025
- S. 1992 – Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025
Theme: These bills collectively aim to simplify forms, improve notice and communication, increase transparency in appeals, and strengthen quality review—directly affecting how veterans experience the claims process. vfw-org-hqagarhxahbybyd9.z01.azurefd.net
Post 280 talking point: "We support legislation that makes VA decisions clearer, faster, and fairer—no veteran should lose benefits because the system is confusing.”
B. Caregivers and family support
- H.R. 2148 / S. 879 – Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act
- H.R. 3833 – Veterans’ Caregiver Appeals Modernization Act of 2025
Theme: Strengthens caregiver programs, improves appeals rights, and supports caregivers’ ability to work and retire with dignity while caring for disabled veterans. vfw-org-hqagarhxahbybyd9.z01.azurefd.net
Post 280 talking point: "Caregivers are force multipliers for VA—supporting them is supporting veterans.”
C. Mental health, suicide prevention, MST, and toxic exposure
- H.R. 2201 – Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act
- H.R. 2623 – Innovative Therapies Centers of Excellence Act of 2025
- H.R. 2878 – Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act
- S. 585 – Servicemember to Veteran Health Care Connection Act of 2025
- S. 793 – Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program reauthorization The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. or VFW vfw-org-hqagarhxahbybyd9.z01.azurefd.net
- S. 926 – Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2025
- S. 2061 – Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act of 2025
- S. 2220 – FORGOTTEN Veterans Act of 2025
Theme: Expands suicide prevention efforts, improves MST claims handling, advances brain health and innovative therapies, and deepens research and recognition for toxic exposure and its generational impact. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. or VFW vfw-org-hqagarhxahbybyd9.z01.azurefd.net
Post 280 talking point: "We back serious, evidence‑based efforts to prevent veteran suicide, improve MST response, and address toxic exposure—no more forgotten veterans.”
D. Access to care, rural veterans, and transportation
- H.R. 3951 – Rural Veterans’ Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025
- S. 784 – Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act
- S. 827 – Supporting Rural Veterans Access to Healthcare Services Act
- S. 1868 – Critical Access for Veterans Care Act
- S. 2397 – CARING for Our Veterans Health Act of 2025
Theme: Focus on rural access, transportation, and strengthening VA’s ability to deliver care where veterans live, consistent with VFW’s push to fix—not abandon—VA community care systems. vfw-org-hqagarhxahbybyd9.z01.azurefd.net
Post 280 talking point: "Rural veterans shouldn’t have to choose between distance and care—Congress must fund access, not excuses.”
4. Bills affecting burials, memorials, and final honors
- H.R. 647 / S. 1116 – Ensuring Veterans’ Final Resting Place Act of 2025
- H.R. 2701 / S. 1318 – Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act
- H.R. 3726 / S. 2309 – Fisher House Availability Act / Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act
- S. 3226 – Bring Our Heroes Home Act
Theme: Protects the dignity, timeliness, and integrity of veterans’ burials, honors, and remains, including religious heritage and accountability in burial processes. vfw-org-hqagarhxahbybyd9.z01.azurefd.net
Post 280 talking point: "How we honor veterans in death reflects how we value them in life—these bills safeguard that promise.”
5. VFW opposition: H.R. 3132 – CHOICE for Veterans Act of 2025
- Bill: H.R. 3132 – CHOICE for Veterans Act of 2025.
- Status: Marked "VFW DOES NOT SUPPORT” in your notes.
- Likely concern: Expansion of community care in ways that risk siphoning resources from VA, undermining VA as the primary coordinator and provider of veterans’ health care—consistent with VFW’s long‑standing concerns about over‑reliance on outsourced care. vfw-org-hqagarhxahbybyd9.z01.azurefd.net
Post 280 talking point:
"We oppose efforts that hollow out VA by over‑expanding community care. Veterans deserve a strong, fully funded VA—not a patchwork of outsourced care.”
State
Key Upcoming Dates:
- January 7, 2026 – First day of Session
- January 13, 2026 – State of the State delivered by Governor Mike Kehoe 3:00pm
- January 19, 2026 – Martin Luther King Holiday – No Session
- February 27, 2026 – Last day to file legislation
- March 13-23, 2026 – Legislative Spring Break – No Session
- April 6, 2026 – Easter Holiday – No Session
- May 8, 2026 – Last day for floor action on Appropriation bills
- May 15, 2026 – Last day of Session
- September 16, 2026 – Veto
Senate
Steven Webber - Stephen Webber - Missouri Senate - District 19 (Boone County)
Kurtis Gregory - Kurtis Gregory - Missouri Senate - District 21 (Cooper, Howard, Lafayette, Ray, Saline and Part of Clay
Travis Fitzwater - Travis Fitzwater - Missouri Senate - District 10 - Callaway, Lincoln, Montgomery, Pike and Part of St. Charles County
Cindy O'Laughlin - Cindy O'Laughlin - Missouri Senate - District 18 - Adair, Audrain, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, and Shelby
Mike Burnskoetter - Mike Bernskoetter - Missouri Senate District 6 - Cole, Camden, Miller, Moniteau and Morgan
Representatives
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