Paralyzed Veterans of America is mobilizing members for an ambitious advocacy agenda in 2026, focusing on five policy priorities
By Robert L. Thomas Jr.
Calling all Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) members! If you’re the type of person who likes to use your voice to speak to others about issues that can make a positive change, then PVA has the right place for you.
Each PVA chapter has its own local advocacy and legislation program. The chapters deal with issues that affect their local community.
The national office has its own program, as well. The concentration here is to make a significant change in the lives of all veterans living with spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D), including multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
PVA’s priorities for 2026 will consist of five main categories. There have been a few bills passed, but we still have work to do. Although some didn’t get over the finish line last year, we’ve made some good progress.
These are PVA’s policy priorities for 2026:
Strengthen the foundations of the
Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) specialized health care services
- This priority focuses on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ direct care system, specifically the SCI/D system. We note that the SCI/D system of care is a national system and recommend it be properly resourced with needed funds, staff and infrastructure. We’re continuing to promote our petition on the SCI/D system of care, and if you haven’t signed it, do so at votervoice.net/pva/
petitions/5455/respond.
Maximize VA long-term services and
support for veterans with SCI/D
- This priority focuses on access to home- and community-based services and VA SCI/D facility-based long-term care. We recommend the VA prioritize infrastructure projects that would increase VA SCI/D facility-based long-term care. We also seek codification of the VA’s Bowel and Bladder Program to make it easier for veterans and their caregivers to use. We continue to seek oversight of the Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act of 2025 that expands access to the VA’s home- and community-based services.
Increase SCI/D veterans’ access to health care services
- This priority includes a focus on accessible transportation in the VA, women veterans with SCI/D and growing the families of veterans with disabilities.
Fortify the financial security of veterans with SCI/D, their families and survivors
- This priority addresses VA disability compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, housing and employment. The section on VA disability compensation states that the core foundations of VA disability compensation are strong, but that inefficiencies should be eliminated. We continue to call for increasing special monthly compensation (SMC). Last December, PVA National Treasurer Tom Wheaton testified before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs about the importance of increasing SMC.
Ensure equal opportunity and full participation for catastrophically
disabled veterans
- This priority addresses compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and accessible transportation for wheelchair users. We’ll be working to include provisions in the Surface Transportation Reauthorization that expand access to sidewalks, crosswalks, curb cuts and ground transportation.
The PVA Government Relations Department has planned several webinars (pva.org/research-resources/disability-rights-advocacy/webinars), which began in February, to discuss the priorities and give a preview of my annual testimony. If you would like to get involved locally, please reach out to your PVA chapter.