The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives, in a rare show of comity, unanimously passed a measure resurrecting a
key office that advocates for the survivors of U.S. military veterans.
By a vote of 424-0, the House passed H.R. 1228, called the “Prioritizing Veterans’ Survivors Act,” which was
a strong bipartisan vote to restore the Office of Survivors Assistance (OSA) to its original role under the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
The measure ensures that the office once more serves as the principal adviser on policies that affect military
families and the survivors of loved ones lost in military service. The passage of the bill reverses a
2021 action that sidelined advocacy for veterans’ survivors, according to reports.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), amends Title 38, United States Code, “to clarify the organization
of the Office of Survivors Assistance of the Department of Veterans Affairs,” according to GovTrack. The measure now
heads to the Senate for consideration.
This comes as President Donald Trump’s approval rating has risen slightly amid signs of easing economic pressure, according
to a new Daily Mail poll.
The outlet’s survey, conducted with J.L. Partners, found Trump’s approval ticking up from 45 percent on Nov. 21
to 47 percent as of Dec. 4.
The poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters online and has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.
The two-point uptick comes as inflation pressures have eased and consumer spending surged over the Thanksgiving holiday, despite
ongoing concerns about affordability that President Trump has dismissed as a “Democrat scam.”
Both Black Friday and Cyber Monday set online spending records, with consumers spending $44.2 billion online over the
full Thanksgiving weekend, according to Adobe Analytics.
Gas prices have also fallen, with the national average dipping below $3 per gallon for the first time
since 2021, AAA reported. The current average is well below median prices from 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Meanwhile, U.S. GDP growth appears to be at its strongest point since the third quarter of 2023, driven
in large part by higher consumer spending, according to recent data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Ths survey found that Trump’s disapproval rating was 53 percent.
Meanwhile the president has pushed back on the Democratic Party’s renewed interest in “affordability” issues after ignoring the
issue during former President Joe Biden’s term, which saw historic inflation.
“Our prices now for energy, for gasoline, are really low. Electricity is coming down. And when that comes
down, everything comes down,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting last week. “The word affordability is a Democrat
scam. Affordability is a hoax that was started by Democrats who caused the problem of pricing.”
Trump has rolled out a series of policies aimed at reducing costs for consumers.
Earlier in the week, he rolled back gas-emission standards put in place during the Biden administration. He also
recently directed pharmaceutical companies to lower drug prices and launched a White House prescription-drug portal, TrumpRx, which the
administration says will reduce costs by removing “third-party” intermediaries.
Trump has additionally promoted a domestic policy package enacted in July that will lower taxes on tips, overtime
pay and Social Security income beginning next year.
Meanwhile, Trump is embarking on an “affordability tour” this week to promote his economic agenda and address concerns
about prices and inflation. He aims to counter Democratic criticisms by highlighting his administration’s efforts to improve economic
conditions, despite ongoing public concerns about affordability issues.
“He will kick off his economics-focused tour at a casino in northeastern Pennsylvania Tuesday, where he is expected
to tout lower gas prices, his role securing $100 billion in energy and artificial intelligence investments for the
Keystone State and his approval for Japanese investment in US Steel,” the New York Post reported.
