(Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican leaders Thursday after they postponed a vote on a sweeping veterans benefits package amid opposition from Democrats and some conservative Republicans.
“Yet again, another reckless Republican bill went down to defeat on the floor of the House of Representatives. House Democrats are in the minority but continue to control the floor, as if we were in the majority,” Jeffries told reporters.
The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act combines more than 60 proposals, including the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act, which would allow certain combat-injured veterans to receive full military retirement pay alongside Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation.
However, the package divided lawmakers and veterans organizations because of its funding provisions. The proposal would change eligibility rules for future disability claims involving tinnitus and sleep apnea. Critics, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans, argued that benefits for some veterans should not be reduced to pay for expanded assistance to others.
At least 22 veterans groups supported the broader legislation. Before the scheduled final vote, Democratic Rep. Chris Deluzio offered a motion to send the bill back to the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The motion failed 211-210 after Republican leaders held the vote open while seeking enough support to defeat it.
Rather than proceeding to final passage, Republican leaders pulled the legislation from consideration. Johnson blamed “misinformation” surrounding the package and indicated that it would probably return after lawmakers’ August recess.
“Perhaps for the first time in the history of the United States of America, the majority party was forced to pull a bill relating to veterans because House Democrats, led by [Ranking Member] Mark Takano, have made clear all week that this bill doesn’t benefit hard-working veterans in the United States of America,” Jeffries said.
“It would actually hurt them.” Jeffries also used the press conference to criticize President Donald Trump before his televised address on election security.
“In advance of Donald Trump’s speech, let me also be clear about one thing: Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election. Something’s really wrong with this guy. I think he actually needs to be checked out,” Jeffries said.
The Democratic leader said his party was focused on the November midterm elections and predicted that Democrats would regain control of the House.
Jeffries also attacked a Republican budget proposal that would authorize $95 billion in new spending, including $60 billion for defense programs connected to the Iran conflict. The plan advanced through the House Budget Committee on a party-line vote but still faces an uncertain path in the narrowly divided chamber.
“House Democrats are committed to making sure that we have a free and fair election in November, and when that occurs, we’re confident that we’re going to take back control of the United States House of Representatives,” Jeffries said.
