House GOP pulls military benefits bill that has divided veterans groups

House Republican leadership on Thursday canceled a vote on a massive military benefits package that would pay for expanded compensation for veterans by cutting some future disability claims —a controversial measure that has divided veterans groups. 

GOP leaders ran into a roadblock on a Democratic-led procedural vote to send the bill back to committee, with four Republicans taking the unusual step of voting with Democrats in a signal that there may not be the support necessary to pass the underlying bill.

If successful, it would have allowed Democrats to call up an amendment to strike some of the cost-saving provisions regarding Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan program fees and benefits for veterans with tinnitus and sleep apnea. 

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other GOP leaders huddled with some of the holdouts in an office off the House floor as they held open the vote and aimed to sway the lawmakers. Leaving one such huddle, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) said: “I’m not going to cut veteran’s benefits.” 

Three Republicans ultimately maintained their “yes” votes: Luna, Rep. Max Miller (Ohio) and Rep. Jeff Van Drew (N.J.). GOP Rep. Victoria Spartz (Ind.) eventually flipped her vote to oppose the Democratic motion, letting Republican leaders win the procedural vote.

But leadership then immediately pulled the bill from the House floor.

Van Drew said the failed vote proved the legislation is not ready. 

“It has good provisions, but paying for them by reducing disability compensation for veterans with service-related health issues is the wrong approach. We can, and must, do better. Start by passing the Major Richard Star Act,” the New Jersey lawmaker wrote on social........

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