Hold Hearing
The Joint House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs held a significant hearing on March 3, 2026, focusing on legislative presentations from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and several other veterans service or-
ganizations (VSOs). This annual event, part of the VFW's 2026 Washington Conference (held March 1-5 in Washington, D.C.), provided a platform for VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore to deliver the organization's top legislative priorities directly to lawmakers.
The hearing took place at 10:00 AM EST in Room SD-G50 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, drawing a standing-room-only crowd. It featured testimony from the VFW alongside multi-VSO partners, including Student Veterans of America, Jewish War Veterans, Blinded Veterans Association, Fleet Reserve Association, Minority Veterans of America, National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO), and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). The session was livestreamed and is available for viewing on platforms such as the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee website and YouTube channels covering congressional proceedings.
In a historic moment, Commander Whitmore—the first woman to lead the VFW—testified forcefully on behalf of the organization's more than 1.3 million members and Auxiliary. Introduced by fellow lowan and VFW member U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, Whitmore thanked the committees for the opportunity to advocate. Her testimony emphasized the theme "Honor the Contract", urging Congress to fulfill promises made to veterans through sustained investment in benefits, health care, and support systems.
Key priorities highlighted by Whitmore and the VFW included:
e Strengthening the all-volunteer force with better pay, housing, family, and transition support.
e Advancing VA community care through bills like the Veterans’ ACCESS Act of 2025 and the Foreign Medical Program Modernization Act of 2025.
Addressing toxic exposure issues, such as missile specialists and submariners.
Combating predatory claims consultants by requiring VA accreditation.
Reforming military justice to better address sexual assault and emerging harms.
Protecting earned benefits amid ongoing debates over VA policy changes.
A major focus was the Major Richard Star Act (S. 1032 in the Senate), which aims to eliminate the unfair offset that reduces retirement pay for medically retired combat veterans receiving VA disability compensation. The bill would allow over 50,000 affected veterans to receive both full benefits without reduction. During opening remarks, Ranking Member Blumenthal announced his intent to seek unanimous consent on the Senate floor at 12:00 PM EST for passage or a vote on the measure, drawing applause from attendees. However, the effort was blocked for the second time—first by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) in a prior attempt and now by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). Commander Whitmore expressed deep disappointment, stating she was "appalled by the resistance by certain members of Congress to care for veterans who have sacrificed so much."
The hearing underscored bipartisan support for veterans' issues, with lawmakers like Sen. Jerry Moran reaffirming commitments to advance the Major Richard Star Act through appropriate channels, including the Senate Armed Services Committee. Discussions also touched on VA direct care quality when properly resourced, recruitment/retention challenges, and the need for transparency in areas like housing allowances and sexual assault prevention.
This joint session highlighted the VFW's influential role in shaping veterans’ policy. As America's largest war veterans' organization, the VFW continues to mobilize members to lobby Congress during the Washington Conference and beyond. For those interested in the full testimony or related documents, recordings and statements are accessible via the VFW website (vfw.org), congressional committee pages, and official livestream archives.
The event reinforces the ongoing commitment to veterans’ earned benefits and the critical need for legislative action on long-standing priorities in 2026.