WXOW: Rep. Van Orden and Sec. Collins host veterans roundtable
SPARTA, Wis. (WXOW) – Congressman Derrick Van Orden and U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Doug Collins hosted a veterans roundtable at the Sparta American Legion Thursday.
Wisconsin veterans had the chance to ask questions and discuss the challenges they face. Both Van Orden and Collins said educating veterans about available benefits and policy changes remains a major priority.
Van Orden highlighted two standalone veteran-focused bills that have been signed into law including the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act and the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2025
Secretary Collins said the focus of the VA should be about making it easier for veterans to access the benefits they've earned.
"The VA is becoming the one thing it should be, and that is about a veteran,” Collins said. “We do everything now to focus on 'what do we do to make it easier for the veteran to get the benefits they've earned?' By the way, I'm sick of hearing anybody say, 'a veteran gets given anything.' They haven't been given crap. They've earned everything when they raised their right hand and went to say, 'I'm going to do something for this country.'"
Van Orden was also asked about the Major Richard Star Act, bipartisan legislation that would allow combat-disabled veterans to receive both their retirement pay and VA disability compensation.
Currently, combat-injured retired vets have to forfeit part of their retirement pay to receive VA disability. Van Orden clarified this is not a VA Committee issue, but rather it needs to come from the House of Armed Services Committee.
"I support the Major Richard Star Act and we're just trying to get it through committee,” Van Orden said. "The money has to be authorized and appropriated. The price tag that came over was pretty high, which I don't care about that when we're talking about our veterans—especially our combat-wounded veterans. The price tag and the wallet should not have any part of that equation."
Van Orden added the act would impact not only Wisconsin veterans but combat-disabled veterans across the country. After the roundtable, Collins and Van Orden visited the Tomah VA.