House Unanimously Approves Legislation to Support Veteran Survivors
In a rare moment of full agreement, the House of Representatives on Thursday voted unanimously to pass legislation aimed at strengthening support for the families of deceased U.S. military veterans.
The bill, H.R. 1228 — titled the “Prioritizing Veterans’ Survivors Act” — passed by a 424-0 vote. The legislation reinstates the Office of Survivors Assistance (OSA) to its original standing under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), ensuring it once again acts as the primary adviser on issues impacting military families and the survivors of fallen service members.
This move undoes a 2021 change that had diminished the office’s influence, a decision that drew criticism for weakening survivor advocacy efforts.
Sponsored by Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), the bill modifies Title 38 of the U.S. Code to “clarify the organization of the Office of Survivors Assistance of the Department of Veterans Affairs,” as noted by GovTrack. With House approval secured, the legislation will now proceed to the Senate for further review.
VA Secretary Doug Collins — a former Republican congressman from Georgia — has voiced support for broader government reform efforts led by Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency.
“I’m going to make decisions best for my employees and best for the veterans. They’re giving us good advice, looking with fresh eyes,” Collins told NewsNation. “We need to make sure we’re doing the best we can for those veterans out there.”
Collins also addressed growing concerns over potential cuts to veterans’ benefits under the Trump administration in a recent video message.
“We’re putting Veterans number one back at the VA,” he stated, acknowledging that while change can bring uncertainty, the core mission of supporting veterans remains unchanged.
He directly refuted claims that VA healthcare services would suffer, emphasizing that the department has safeguarded 300,000 essential positions to maintain vital services. Regarding speculation about benefit reductions, Collins was clear:
“They’re not,” he said, adding that $98 million had in fact been reallocated toward enhancing Veterans’ services, not cutting them.
Responding to another rumor, Collins dismissed the idea that staff answering the Veterans Crisis Line were being laid off.
“We did not lay off any Veteran Crisis Line responders,” he clarified, assuring that the support line remains fully operational for veterans in need.
He encouraged veterans to turn to the VA for accurate information, cautioning against misinformation spreading through political rhetoric.
“When you want the truth, come to me, not the Whopper line up on Capitol Hill,” Collins said, pushing back against what he described as politically driven falsehoods.
Nonetheless, Collins did confirm that an internal memo was sent to VA employees outlining a voluntary departure program ahead of expected staffing reductions later in the fiscal year, as reported by Stars and Stripes.
“Employees approved for the program will receive full pay and benefits through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year, Collins said,” according to the outlet.
Separately, earlier this week the House also passed the Take It Down Act, aimed at criminalizing the distribution of AI-generated explicit content without consent.
The legislation passed by a wide 409–2 margin, with 22 lawmakers not casting a vote. The only dissenters were Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), as reported by The Hill.
This new law would make it a federal offense to knowingly publish digitally fabricated, realistic-looking pornographic material featuring identifiable individuals on social media or other digital platforms.
President Trump has indicated he plans to sign the bill into law.