Pass the CHOICE Act to Help Veterans

As partisanship continues to dominate Washington, a bill that quietly passed out of the House Veterans Affairs Committee has given leaders in both parties the opportunity to cross the aisle and continue Congress’ tradition of putting veterans first.

The proposed legislation, however, would allow veterans to work with qualified fee-based companies so they can cut through the VA’s red-tape more quickly. It also strengthens protections against con artists and grifters by establishing accreditation for private companies, creating civil and criminal penalties, and capping charges at $12,500 per claim to stop unethical “advisors” from fleecing veterans. 

Unfortunately, those con artists exist because securing VA benefits can be a nightmare. Ineffective leadership and bureaucracy have plagued the department for decades, producing unbelievable backlogs. Even though processing times have improved over the past year, nearly 200K veterans’ disability claims are still pending as of June 2025. 

Right now, the CHOICE Act only has Republican sponsors. But Democrats’ support is necessary for it to become law. Thankfully, veteran issues have always superseded “red” and “blue” labels, especially since the VA scandal broke in 2014. In response to the wait-time scandal that blew open the doors to the agency’s backlog and corruption, Congress passed the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act (H.R. 3230). Sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL) and co-sponsored by several Democrats, it passed the House 426-1 and Senate 93-3, and President Obama signed it into law.

Five years later, Democrats and Republicans united again to extend disability benefits and healthcare to Vietnam War veterans exposed to Agent Orange offshore through the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act (H.R. 299). Sponsored by U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) and supported by Republican co-sponsors, the bill passed unanimously, and President Trump signed it into law. Once more, our representatives showed true leadership in this bill, coming together for something greater than partisan politics or a soundbite for their next campaign. 

The CHOICE Act deserves the same commitment to leadership over partisanship. The dozens of veterans in both parties know that they were most successful on the battlefield when they worked together, and that veterans served all Americans, including each of our political stripes. They also know the pain and suffering experienced by veterans on and off the battlefield, from physical injuries and mental health challenges to the transition from military service to the next stages of their lives.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has made a number of improvements since the benefits wait-time scandal broke some 11 years ago. Secretary Doug Collins has made more progress in his few months in office by terminating wasteful contracts, accelerating claim processing, and making smart investments into AI technologies.

There’s still a long way to go before America’s warriors are taken care of the way they deserve. The CHOICE Act is a strong step in the right direction - as long as lawmakers put leadership above partisanship. 

Pass the CHOICE Act.

Jack Yoest is an Associate Professor at The Catholic University of America in the Busch School of Business in Washington, DC.  He is a former Armored Cavalry Officer and author of The Memo: How the Classified Military Document That Helped the U.S. Win WWII Can Help You Succeed in Business.