Summary
A proposal submitted to Congress aims to change how the United States classifies veterans for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. The change could affect millions of veterans by making more of them eligible for certain benefits, regardless of whether they served during officially declared wartime periods.
Key Facts
- A proposal could change how veterans qualify for certain VA benefits by altering the definitions of "wartime" and "peacetime" service.
- Currently, only veterans who served during officially declared wartime periods can receive the VA's non-service-connected disability pension.
- The pension is for low-income veterans who are elderly or permanently disabled.
- The last formal U.S. war declaration was in 1942 during World War II.
- Many veterans who served in later conflicts are classified as peacetime veterans and thus have limited access to certain VA benefits.
- The proposal suggests expanding benefits to those who served in military conflicts not officially declared as wars by Congress.
- Ohio veteran Tim Cookson is advocating for this change, arguing that technical definitions unfairly limit veteran benefits.
- Cookson wants recognition for veterans awarded Expeditionary and Campaign Medals as wartime, qualifying them for VA benefits.
