Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, voted in favor of the 2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Act which seeks to reduce the backlog in claims currently present at the Department of Veteran Affairs. The bill passed 421-4. Cuellar, a Member of the U.S House Appropriations Committee, expressed how critically important this bill is for his district:

“My district staff is currently working with over 205 veterans with outstanding claims that have been unresolved for 18 to 24 months. This is unacceptable. Our veterans have given full measures of devotion for our country, often sacrificing their time, their youth, and--in some cases--their health; it is our obligation to ensure veterans receive the assistance they deserve in a timely fashion,” said Congressman Cuellar. “It is our duty as a Congress and as a grateful nation to provide a benefits system that is easy to navigate and responsive.”

 As of May 2013, the Veteran’s Administration had 843,000 claims pending – more than two thirds of which have been pending for over 125 days. The bill fully funds and supports 20,851 claims processors ensuring there are enough individuals to review claims. Additionally, the bill funds the VA’s Veterans Claims Intake Program – converting old paper files to digital ones that are more accessible and searchable. The bill also directs the VA and the Department of Defense to create one electronic health record system – preventing errors and potentially reducing costs. 

To get additional information on the 2014 Military Construction and Veteran Affairs Appropriations Act follow this link: http://1.usa.gov/17YKvPi

To view Congressman Cuellar’s full remarks on the House Floor on Tuesday, June 4, follow this link:  http://www.c-spanvideo.org/clip/4454744