NORFOLK, Va. — We're verifying a political ad, paid for and approved by Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal. The ad criticizes Congresswoman Jen Kiggans' record on veterans' benefits.
The ad says: "Kiggans has chosen MAGA, calling Marjorie Taylor Greene her 'teammate' and voting with them to cut veterans' benefits."
Is that claim about cutting veterans' benefits true? Let's Verify.
Our sources are the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023.
This Act is referenced in the political ad. The bill was an attempt to curb government spending, or "to increase the federal debt limit and decrease spending."
According to the bill, it would repeal energy tax credits, expand work requirements for SNAP benefits and block regulations surrounding student loan debt cancellations.
The Act does not specifically mention any cuts to veteran benefits. The bill included a broad cut in government spending, but did not exempt veterans benefits from cuts.
The VA said this bill would mean a cut in critical programs. In a press release, they said this proposed debt-busting bill would mean a 22% reduction in veterans services.
It warned a cut like this would mean 30 million fewer healthcare appointments for veterans in addition to job losses, an increased backlog in disability claims, and a delay in the opening of veteran cemeteries among other concerns.
At the time, Republicans denied the VA would be impacted by the cuts, but never explained how that would happen without a specific exemption in the bill.
Republican Mike Bost, the chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, accused Democrats of "distorting the truth."
He said, "Republicans have always prioritized veterans in our spending," and said the bill would "save taxpayers money all while protecting veterans benefits."
In addition to the VA, 24 veterans groups also wrote an open letter to Congress voicing concerns about the Act, asking lawmakers not to pass the proposed legislation without protections for VA funding.
Therefore, the ad's claim needs more context.
Kiggans did not vote specifically to cut Veterans benefits but did vote along party lines in favor of a bill the VA warned could mean proposed cuts to VA benefits.
Republicans said they did not want to cut veterans' benefits, they wanted to cut government spending – but Democrats criticized them for not exempting veterans' benefits from the proposed budget cuts.
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