110 HR 2257 IH: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase U.S. House of Representatives 2007-05-09 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
I 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2257 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 9, 2007 Mr. Welch of Vermont introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of benefits claims representatives employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and to ensure that there are not fewer than two such claims representatives located at each center for the provision of readjustment counseling and related mental health services established under section 1712A of title 38, United States Code (commonly referred to as a vet center), to help reduce the backlog of claims pending with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
1.
Claims representatives to be located at vet centers
(a)
In general
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase the number of benefits claims representatives employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs by a number that is not fewer than two such representatives for each center for the provision of readjustment counseling and related mental health services established under section 1712A of title 38, United States Code (in this Act referred to as a vet center). The Secretary shall ensure that there are not fewer than two benefits claims representatives located at each vet center. (b)
Qualifications
The Secretary shall ensure that benefits claims representatives employed by the Department shall, at a minimum, have adequate knowledge of the benefits claims process in order to— (1)receive applications for benefits from veterans; (2)assist veterans in preparing and submitting such applications; (3)assess the need for and inform veterans of additional documents or information required to be provided by the veterans with respect to such applications; and (4)inform veterans of the status of such submitted applications. (c)
Additional resources
Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Secretary shall direct additional resources to more hours of social worker and mental health time, more staff to keep vet centers open longer hours, and the provision of links to job centers and training. (d)
Deadline
The Secretary shall implement the requirements of subsection (a) as soon as practicable and not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (e)
Reporting requirement
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the following information: (1)The effect of the additional claims representatives located at vet centers on the claims backlog. (2)The caseloads of such additional claims representatives. (3)The estimated claims backlog at the time of the report. (4)Recommendations to further reduce the claims backlog and otherwise facilitate the claims process.