[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 50 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E738-E739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 VETERANS' BENEFITS CLAIMS ADJUDICATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAN SCHAEFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 24, 1997

  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, as in past Congresses, it 
is crucial that veterans' issues remain at the top of the agenda. 
Serving on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I am constantly 
impressed by the bipartisanship that is demonstrated. This is due to 
the leadership of Chairman Bob Stump and Democratic Ranking Member Lane 
Evans.
  One of the most pressing problems that both sides of the aisle are 
concentrating on is that of adjudication of veterans' benefits claims. 
The publication of a General Accounting Office report in September 
1995, closely followed by issuance of the Veterans' Claims Adjudication 
Commission's report in December 1996, has brought this issue to the 
fore. Some of the findings are truly troubling.
  As of May 1995, over 450,000 veterans were waiting on decisions for 
their appeals for pension or compensation claims. A veteran waits, on 
average, 2\1/2\ years for a decision to finally be rendered.
  This is unconscionable. When times are tight, an almost 3-year wait 
for benefits can seem like a lifetime. Especially considering that 
these benefits were earned through dedicated and oftentimes hazardous 
service to our country.
  What is being done? The House Veterans' Affairs Committee has 
prepared a schedule to adequately address this issue in the 105th 
Congress. A full committee hearing to review the Adjudication 
Commission's report is planned for later this spring. This will allow 
members of the committee to further investigate the work of the 
Commission and to debate possible means of rectifying some of the 
concerns that have been raised.
  An active oversight plan is also on the agenda. In fact, the 
committee has a list of 58 programs, agencies, and issues to follow up 
on. The goal of oversight is to bring any deficiencies to light so that 
solutions can be found to ensure that veterans' benefits are not 
unjustly interrupted, and to guarantee the integrity of all Veterans' 
Administration Programs.
  The House in the 105th Congress has already taken action on H.R. 
1090, a bill to allow for revision of veterans' benefits decisions 
based on clear and unmistakable error. This represents a minor step to 
ameliorating the negative impact of the backlog in adjudication claims. 
Cases involving clear and unmistakable errors are few, but any 
eliminations from the docket will be welcome. I would urge the Members 
of the Senate to act expeditiously on this matter.
  The adjudication process for veterans' benefits claims has been 
recognized as an area of

[[Page E739]]

immediate importance. With continued bipartisan cooperation, the House 
Veterans' Affairs Committee will be better able to affect a decrease in 
the backlog of pending cases. I pledge to continue working toward this 
end.

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