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Matthew Jabaut is chair of The American Legion’s National Legislative Commission and a past Department Commander of Maine. An Army veteran, he served from 1997 to 2005 as a combat medic, including a combat tour in the Middle East, and earned the Expert Field Medical Badge.
Every day, veterans across Maine travel long distances to receive the care and benefits they earned through military service. Whether it’s an early morning drive to Togus or hours on the road to a community provider, those appointments represent more than another stop on the calendar: they represent a promise our nation made to the men and women who served.
Congress now has a responsibility to keep that promise.
The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA) addresses a problem most veterans have never heard of but could still feel the consequences of. Because of federal budget rules, billions of dollars intended for veterans’ programs are at risk of being lost if Congress fails to act. TCAVA ensures those resources remain dedicated to veterans instead of disappearing because Washington couldn’t resolve a budget issue.
For Maine, this isn’t an abstract debate.
Ours is one of the most rural states in the nation. Many veterans already travel significant distances for specialty care, and community providers play a critical role in ensuring they can receive treatment closer to home. TCAVA strengthens the Community Care program that so many rural veterans rely on, helping ensure that where a veteran lives does not determine whether they can access timely, quality care.
The legislation also makes important investments in mental health services and care coordination. Too many veterans face invisible wounds that require specialized treatment, and access to those services can be especially challenging in rural communities. Expanding mental health resources and improving continuity of care means veterans can spend less time navigating the system and more time focusing on recovery.
For many Maine families, those improvements matter just as much as any dollar amount. Our state is home to one of the oldest veteran populations in the country, and countless spouses, children, and caregivers help aging veterans remain healthy and independent. TCAVA includes provisions that strengthen support for caregivers and improve services for veterans with complex needs, recognizing that caring for veterans often means supporting the families who care for them.
As a combat medic and fellow veteran, I’ve seen firsthand what military service demands of those who volunteer to wear the uniform. The sacrifices are real, and so is our obligation to those who return home carrying the physical and invisible wounds of war. That obligation should not depend on the outcome of a procedural budget dispute.
The American Legion has always believed veterans deserve practical solutions, not political theater. We have worked with leaders of both parties whenever it meant strengthening the care, benefits, and opportunities available to those who served. TCAVA deserves the same approach. It is a practical measure designed to preserve resources for veterans while improving access to the care and support they have earned.
Reasonable people can disagree about legislation; they can debate priorities and propose improvements. But allowing resources intended for veterans to simply vanish serves no one. It doesn’t improve health care. It doesn’t strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs. Most importantly, it doesn’t honor the commitment America made to every service member who answered the call.
Maine’s congressional delegation has long demonstrated its commitment to veterans and military families. I urge them to continue that tradition by supporting the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act and ensuring that the promises made to those who served are promises kept.
Veterans fulfilled their end of the bargain. Congress should fulfill its own.