WASHINGTON (Mar. 7, 2025) – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) introduced the Coast Guard Combat-Injured Tax Fairness Act to return improperly withheld taxes back to combat-injured U.S. Coast Guard veterans. It also ensures they receive the same treatment as wounded combat veterans in other branches.
“Wounded veteran is a wounded veteran, regardless the branch. They served and were hurt in the line of duty,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This shouldn’t be a discussion. This should have been passed yesterday.”
“Our servicemembers are the best among us, and the Coast Guard is no exception. It’s our duty to ensure all veterans receive the benefits they deserve,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “I am proud to partner with Senator Cassidy to re-introduce the bipartisan Coast Guard Combat-Injured Tax Fairness Act, which will ensure Coast Guard veterans receive the full benefits they earned through their service. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle should be eager to get this done.”
In 2016, the Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act returned improperly withheld taxes owed to combat-injured veterans of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Marine Corps. However, due to a technical error, combat-injured U.S. Coast Guard veterans were excluded.
Background
As a member of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Cassidy is a champion of veteran issues. Last month, Cassidy introduced the VetPAC Act and the Veterans Mental Health and Addiction Therapy Quality of Care Act to improve health care for veterans. In January, Cassidy reintroduced the Restore VA Accountability Act to strengthen accountability by unlocking expedited disciplinary processes for VA employees who fail to adequately serve veterans.
In December 2024, the Senate passed Cassidy’s Veteran Service Organization (VSO) Equal Tax Treatment (VETT) Act, sending the bill to the president’s desk. The bill would expand the deductibility of charitable contributions to all federally chartered tax-exempt organizations serving current and former members of the Armed Forces. The Senate also unanimously passed Cassidy’s bipartisan Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act. The legislation increases access to job counseling services for spouses of members of the Armed Forces who died while on active duty through the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program at the U.S. Department of Labor.
In August 2024, Cassidy penned an op-ed in the American Press highlighting federal resources that support American veterans’ physical and mental health. The op-ed came on the heels of the 43rd National Veteran Wheelchair Games, which was hosted in New Orleans.
In 2022, the Senate unanimously passed Cassidy’s Solid Start Act to strengthen the VA’s Solid Start program to contact every veteran three times by phone in the first year after they leave active duty. The program helps connect veterans with VA programs and benefits, including mental health resources.
