Helping Veterans Claim What They Deserve
Veterans and military families can vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), regardless of where they are stationed . In 2026, major legislation including the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act and FY2026 VA appropriations (over $445 billion) are reshaping benefits, healthcare, and survivor support . This guide covers voting rights, key legislation, and how veterans influence policy.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Voting Protections | UOCAVA guarantees absentee voting for military overseas |
| Key 2026 Bill | Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (H.R. 9237) |
| FY2026 VA Budget | $445.49 billion total ($133.18B discretionary, $312.30B mandatory) |
| Major Richard Star Act | Ends offset for 59,000+ combat-injured medically retired veterans |
| Mental Health Funding | $18.9 billion for FY2026 |
| VSO Coalition Support | 20+ organizations backing TCAVA |
| Military Voters (2024) | ~542,000 registered overseas; 75% voted by mail |
Active duty service members, National Guard, Reservists, and Veterans living overseas have the right to vote in federal elections under federal law .
What it is: Federal law requiring states to allow military members, their families, and overseas citizens to register and vote absentee in federal elections.
Who qualifies:
Active duty service members
Merchant Marines
Eligible family members
U.S. citizens residing outside the country
Why it matters: Service members cannot choose where they are stationed. UOCAVA ensures deployment doesn’t cost them their constitutional right to vote.
What to do next: Visit FVAP.gov for state-specific registration and ballot deadlines. Local and state election offices are the best resources for voting information .
On June 29, 2026, the Supreme Court upheld mail-in voting protections for military and overseas voters in Watson v. Republican National Committee . House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano called it “a landmark day for protecting the sacred right to vote for the thousands of servicemembers, military families, and veterans who depend on mail-in ballots” .
There are approximately 30,000 veterans living in the District of Columbia who do not have voting representation in Congress or full local self-government. H. Res. 1304, introduced in the 119th Congress, recognizes this as a denial of rights for D.C. resident veterans and supports statehood .
During the 2024 general election, about 542,000 uniformed service members were registered to vote while stationed overseas. Postal mail was the most common method of ballot return, with 75% of service members using it .
Resources for military voters:
FVAP.gov – Federal Voting Assistance Program
EAC.gov/uocava – U.S. Election Assistance Commission
Local election offices – State-specific registration and ballot information
2026 is a landmark year for veterans policy, with historic legislation moving through Congress. The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA) represents the most comprehensive veterans package in a generation .
What it is: Omnibus legislation introduced by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.) on June 10, 2026 . It combines more than 60 bipartisan, widely-supported bills into a single package .
Who it affects: Veterans, service members, survivors, caregivers, and military families across the country.
Why it matters: For the first time in a generation, “the votes and resources line up to move to pass these bills” . The legislation addresses issues that have stalled for years across multiple Congresses and administrations.
What to do next: Veterans and advocates are urged to contact their representatives to support TCAVA. The bill is on the House calendar for floor consideration as of July 2026 .
| Provision | What It Does | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Major Richard Star Act | Ends offset forcing combat-injured medically retired veterans to forfeit retirement pay to receive VA disability compensation | ~59,000 combat-wounded veterans |
| Love Lives On Act | Ends penalty where surviving spouses lose benefits if they remarry before age 55 | Surviving spouses |
| Veterans’ ACCESS Act | Codifies community care access standards; expands mental health and addiction treatment access | All enrolled Veterans |
| VITAL Act | Expands support and assistance for family caregivers | Caregivers of eligible Veterans |
| Expanded DIC | Reduces eligibility requirements for enhanced Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for survivors of Veterans diagnosed with ALS | Surviving spouses of ALS Veterans |
| Suicide Prevention | Extends the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program | Veterans in crisis |
| Sleep Apnea/Tinnitus Ratings | Revises VA disability rating schedules | Veterans with these conditions (prospective only, no retroactive harm) |
What it is: A provision within TCAVA that ends the unfair “wounded veteran tax.” Currently, more than 59,000 combat-injured veterans with fewer than 20 years of service must forfeit a portion of their military retirement pay dollar-for-dollar to receive VA disability compensation .
Who qualifies: Combat-injured, medically retired veterans with less than 20 years of service.
Why it matters: “My brother Richard died waiting for this bill to pass,” said David Star, Major Richard Star’s brother. “Our family and the 59,000 combat-wounded veterans deserve action” . The bill has been introduced multiple times since 2020 with 79 cosponsors but failed to pass under both Democrat and Republican majorities .
A coalition of more than 20 leading Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) and stakeholders sent a key letter urging Congress to pass TCAVA :
Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
Elizabeth Dole Foundation
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
American Veterans (AMVETS)
The American Legion
National Military Family Association (NMFA)
MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret) stated: “Veterans don’t need this legislation tomorrow. They don’t need it even today. Veterans needed this legislation yesterday… It is already well past time to make this happen, and we have a unique, but fleeting, opportunity” .
Pay-for mechanism: TCAVA’s funding includes codifying proposed changes to the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities for tinnitus and sleep apnea . Critics note that legislating changes to the VASRD is not standard practice .
Protections for current beneficiaries: VSOs emphasized the bill includes protections to prevent reductions for current beneficiaries. Changes would be:
Prospective application only (future claims or future requests for increased ratings)
No retroactive harm to veterans currently receiving compensation
The American Legion acknowledged the controversy: “We recognize that reasonable people have reached different conclusions, and we respect those differences… The American Legion fulfilled its responsibility to carefully evaluate this legislation and review every provision” .
What it is: The Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act, included in TCAVA . It ensures consistent implementation of the VA Community Care Program and streamlines access to mental health and addiction treatment.
Who qualifies: All Veterans eligible for VA healthcare.
Key provisions:
Establishes existing community care access standards as the baseline standard of care
Increases access to life-saving treatment programs for mental health and addiction
Expands criteria VA must consider for community referrals (including Veteran preference and continuity of care)
Endorsements: Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, VFW, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and MOAA .
Caregiver Support: Expands support and assistance provided to family caregivers
Education Benefits: Modifies independent study coverage; requires Transition Assistance Program counseling to include VA benefits presentation; increases housing allowance for apprenticeships
Survivor Benefits: Extends entitlement to remarried surviving spouses; increases Dependency and Indemnity Compensation rates
Mental Health: Expands VA mental health research; establishes standardized screening for priority admission to mental health care programs
Concurrent Receipt: Allows concurrent receipt of disability compensation and military retired pay for certain retirees with combat-related disability
VA Personnel and Infrastructure: Addresses VA hiring, personnel, and infrastructure matters
Memorial Headstones: Expands eligibility for memorial headstones for spouses and dependents
The FY2026 VA budget passed as part of the Continuing Appropriations Act (P.L. 119-37) with $445.49 billion total funding . The bill passed the Senate 87-9 in August 2025 .
| Component | FY2025 Enacted | FY2026 Enacted | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| VBA (Benefits) | $236.90B | $263.79B | +$26.89B (+11.35%) |
| VHA (Healthcare) | $113.67B | $116.03B | +$2.36B (+2.08%) |
| NCA (Cemeteries) | $480M | $498.50M | +$18.5M (+3.85%) |
| Departmental Admin | $10.65B | $12.49B | +$1.84B (+17.28%) |
| Toxic Exposures Fund | $6.00B | $52.68B | +$46.68B (+778%) |
| TOTAL VA | $367.71B | $445.49B | +$77.78B (+21.15%) |
Source: CRS Report R48968
VA medical care discretionary funding of $113.8 billion is combined with $49.8 billion from the Toxic Exposures Fund for total healthcare funding of $163.6 billion .
| Program | Funding | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health | $18.9 billion | Includes $698M for suicide prevention outreach |
| Telehealth Services | $6.4 billion | Expanding rural access |
| Homelessness Programs | $3.5 billion | Prevention and support |
| Caregivers Program | $3.5 billion | $235M above President’s request |
| Women Veterans Health | $1.4 billion | $96M above request |
| Rural Health Initiatives | $342 million | Transportation and telehealth |
| Medical & Prosthetic Research | $943 million | |
| VA IT Systems | $5.9 billion | Development and maintenance |
| EHR Modernization | $3.5 billion | 13 new sites in CY2026, 26 in CY2027 |
Source: Senate Appropriations Committee
Veterans and military families have significant political influence through VSOs, advocacy organizations, and grassroots engagement.
VSOs advocate for legislation, help Veterans navigate benefits, and represent the Veteran community in Washington. Key organizations include:
The American Legion – Largest VSO with over 1.6 million members
VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars)
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
Wounded Warrior Project – Focuses on post-9/11 Veterans
Paralyzed Veterans of America
AMVETS
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) – Supports grieving families
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee – Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL), Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA)
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee – Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS), Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Veteran Servant Leader Award: Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) honored 32 local veterans for continued community service. Arizona’s 6th District is home to nearly 80,000 veterans .
Register to vote – Even if stationed overseas or recently transitioned
Contact representatives – Urge support for TCAVA
Join a VSO – Get representation and advocacy support
Serve as an election worker – EAC partnership with Vet the Vote encourages Veterans to serve at the polls
Stay informed – Follow legislation at Congress.gov and Committee websites
EAC Commissioners encourage Veterans to continue serving their communities as election workers .
“To those who no longer serve our country in uniform, we now ask you to serve your community at the polls,” the Commissioners stated. “Through the agency’s partnership with Vet the Vote, we have been able to thank hundreds of veterans who have also served as election workers and to encourage others to sign up and serve their community in this way” .
Yes. Under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), states must allow active duty service members, their families, and overseas citizens to register and vote absentee in federal elections. In 2024, 75% of service members voted by mail .
TCAVA is a comprehensive 2026 omnibus bill combining over 60 bipartisan veterans provisions. It includes the Major Richard Star Act (ending the offset for combat-injured retirees), the Love Lives On Act (surviving spouse remarriage penalty), and the Veterans’ ACCESS Act (community care standards) .
It ends the unfair offset that forces more than 59,000 combat-injured, medically retired veterans to forfeit their earned military retirement pay dollar-for-dollar to receive VA disability compensation. First introduced in 2020, it’s now included in the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act .
FY2026 VA funding is $445.49 billion total, including $133.18 billion in discretionary funding and $312.30 billion in mandatory funding. The Toxic Exposures Fund increased 778% to $52.68 billion .
The ACCESS Act, included in TCAVA, ensures consistent implementation of the VA Community Care Program and streamlines access to mental health and addiction treatment. It establishes community care access standards as the baseline and expands criteria for community referrals .
No. Approximately 30,000 Veterans live in D.C. without voting representation in Congress. H. Res. 1304 recognizes this and supports D.C. statehood .
On June 29, 2026, the Supreme Court upheld mail-in voting protections for military and overseas voters in Watson v. Republican National Committee, protecting the voting rights of service members and military families .
Join a VSO, contact your representatives about legislation like TCAVA, register to vote, and consider serving as an election worker through the Vet the Vote partnership .
$18.9 billion for mental health, including $698 million specifically for suicide prevention outreach programs .
Visit FVAP.gov for state-specific voting information or EAC.gov/uocava for UOCAVA resources .
Military voting rights protected by UOCAVA and upheld by Supreme Court in 2026
TCAVA is the most comprehensive veterans legislation in a generation – includes Major Richard Star Act, Love Lives On Act, and 60+ bills
Major Richard Star Act ends offset for 59,000+ combat-injured veterans
**FY2026 VA budget is $445.49 billion** – $77.78B increase over FY2025
**Mental health funding is $18.9 billion**, with $698M for suicide prevention
20+ VSOs support TCAVA including American Legion, MOAA, and Wounded Warrior Project
Veterans can vote regardless of location – 75% of overseas military voted by mail in 2024
Veterans can continue serving communities as election workers through Vet the Vote
D.C. Veterans lack voting representation – 30,000 residents affected
Advocacy works – Contacting representatives influences legislation
Congress.gov – Track legislation including H.R. 9237
FVAP.gov – Federal Voting Assistance Program for military voters
EAC.gov/uocava – UOCAVA voting resources
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee – https://veterans.house.gov
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee – https://www.veterans.senate.gov
MOAA – https://www.moaa.org
The American Legion – https://www.legion.org
Vet the Vote – Election worker program for Veterans
Disclaimer: This article provides general information. Legislation, eligibility, and requirements may change. For official guidance, visit VA.gov, Congress.gov, or consult an accredited VSO.
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