The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is intensifying pressure on Congress to pass the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, a sweeping legislative package that would deliver long-sought benefits to veterans, caregivers, and survivors. In a forceful appeal, MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly (Ret.) urged lawmakers to act now, warning that further delay would betray the nation's promises to those who served.
Kelly, who spent 33 years in the Air Force, including as deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel, framed the bill as a moral imperative. "For more than three decades, my mission was taking care of our people," he wrote. "As part of this work, I am urging Congress to pass the Take Care of America's Veterans Act to keep this nation's promises to our veterans, to the caregivers who sustain them, and to the survivors who carry their legacy."
The legislation bundles more than 60 measures, nearly all bipartisan, that have languished on Capitol Hill for years. Chief among them is the Major Richard Star Act, a MOAA priority that would end an offset forcing more than 59,000 combat-injured veterans to forfeit earned retirement pay. Kelly noted that many of his members have waited years for this fix.
The bill also addresses caregiver support, allowing family caregivers to rebuild their financial and professional futures after years of sacrifice. It would remove arcane remarriage penalties that strip surviving spouses of benefits, increase Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for all survivors, and ensure surviving spouses of veterans with ALS receive the benefits they deserve. Additionally, the package funds community-based programs aimed at preventing veteran suicide.
MOAA is one of more than 20 stakeholder organizations backing the legislation, and a recent Mission Roll Call survey found 71 percent of veterans support it. Kelly acknowledged the bill is not perfect, particularly its funding mechanism, which relies on projected savings from changes to the VA disability system for sleep apnea and tinnitus—changes already in motion at the VA. He argued that failing to pass the bill would send those savings back to the Treasury, squandering a "unique but fleeting legislative opportunity."
Kelly sought to dispel misconceptions, emphasizing that no veteran would see existing benefits reduced, no disability ratings would drop, and no treatment plans would be altered. Future veterans would retain access to VA care for service-connected injuries like tinnitus and sleep apnea, though the rating process would change.
The true threat, he argued, is inaction. "Combat-injured retirees keep losing pay they have earned, caregivers cannot return to the workforce, and survivors struggle to rebuild their lives without full and fair compensation for their service member's sacrifice," he wrote. He pointed to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, stressing that current service members and their families face these realities now.
Kelly noted that nearly all the bill's measures have been introduced in both chambers under Republican and Democratic majorities alike, only to stall repeatedly. "Keeping promises to those who served is not partisan," he wrote. "Backing this bill, imperfections and all, is not a political act; it is a pragmatic one."
He concluded with a direct appeal: "I urge Congress to pass the Take Care of America's Veterans Act now. Those who wear and those who wore the uniform kept every promise they made to this country. The most patriotic thing we can do is keep ours."
As lawmakers weigh the package, veterans' advocates are watching closely, with some pointing to broader concerns about political distractions, such as criticism of Senator Fetterman's handling of veterans' issues and warnings about military leadership shakeups. The outcome of this legislation will test whether Congress can prioritize veterans' needs amid a polarized climate.
