House Unanimously Passes Bill To Prioritize Veteran Survivors
In a rare moment of unity, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 424-0 this week to pass the “Prioritizing Veterans’ Survivors Act” (H.R. 1228), restoring the Office of Survivors Assistance (OSA) to its original, elevated role within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The legislation, led by Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), amends federal law to ensure the office once again acts as the chief adviser on policies affecting military families and survivors of those who gave their lives in service. The bill reverses a 2021 decision that had effectively sidelined advocacy for veterans’ survivors. The measure now heads to the Senate.
Collins: “Veterans Number One Back at the VA”
VA Secretary Doug Collins, a former GOP congressman and Air Force Reserve colonel, voiced strong support for the change and defended the Trump administration’s approach to veterans’ services. Collins has worked closely with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which President Trump created to streamline federal agencies.
“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.
Collins has also pushed back against left-wing talking points suggesting Trump’s reforms would cut benefits or undermine care.
“We’re putting Veterans number one back at the VA,” he said in a recent video. “We did not lay off any Veteran Crisis Line responders. We preserved 300,000 mission-critical positions to ensure services continue uninterrupted. And we redirected $98 million into care and services for Veterans — not away from them.”
Calling out political fearmongering, Collins warned:
“When you want the truth, come to me, not the Whopper line up on Capitol Hill.”
While Collins acknowledged that the VA is offering employees deferred resignation or early retirement options ahead of restructuring later this fiscal year, he emphasized that such changes are part of strengthening — not weakening — the department’s mission.
House GOP Advances Pro-Police Immigration Bill
The veterans’ measure follows another significant GOP-led initiative. Earlier this month, the House passed the Detain and Deport Illegal Aliens Who Assault Cops Act, legislation requiring federal authorities to deport illegal immigrants who attack law enforcement officers.
The bill passed 265–148, with 54 Democrats joining Republicans. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), who spearheaded the measure, made the stakes clear:
“There is no reason that an illegal alien who attacks our law enforcement should remain in our country; that shows zero respect for our rule of law or our institutions, and they will not be positive contributors to society.”
The bill would mandate detention until deportation and create a new legal standard for inadmissibility, specifically targeting illegal immigrants who assault police.
Two Clear Priorities: Veterans and Rule of Law
Together, the veterans’ survivors bill and the deportation measure highlight the priorities of the GOP-led House and the Trump administration: honoring America’s heroes and protecting law enforcement, while rejecting the soft-on-crime and open-borders policies of the Biden era.