Gus Bilirakis@RepGusBilirakis
I was honored to speak with Veterans, military families, and advocates at this weekend’s American Legion statewide conference. It was a privilege to provide an update on the Major Richard Star Act (MRSA) and several other priority measures that have been incorporated into the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, including the Love Lives On Act, which would finally eliminate the unfair financial penalty imposed on surviving spouses who choose to remarry. Our discussion focused on the renewed momentum behind this legislative package and the real opportunity we have to get these long-overdue reforms signed into law. Thanks to savings generated by a previous Department of Veterans Affairs decision, Congress now has a viable path to fund these important provisions. While I would have preferred an offset from the Department of Defense, I remain committed to ensuring that meaningful progress is not delayed in pursuit of a perfect solution. We cannot allow the perfect to become the enemy of the good when so many Veterans and their families stand to benefit. The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act represents a significant step forward in honoring our commitments to those who have served and sacrificed for our nation. From providing greater fairness for combat-injured retirees to protecting surviving spouses and strengthening support for Veterans and their caregivers, this package will improve countless lives. I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to build support and help move these critical provisions across the finish line.
