[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 154 (Thursday, November 8, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S11613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself and Mr. Hatch):
  S. 1656. A bill to provide for the improvement of the processing of 
claims for veterans compensation and pension, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Madam President, I am proud today to introduce the 
Veterans Benefits Administration Improvement Act of 2001, a bill that 
aims to decrease the amount of time it takes the Veterans Benefits 
Administration, VBA, to process veterans' claims. I am pleased to be 
joined by the senior Senator from Utah, Senator Hatch. He had long been 
a strong advocate for our veterans.
  In 1999, there were 309,000 backlogged claims at the VBA. Today, that 
number stands at 533,000. It now takes an average of 202 days to 
process disability compensation and pension claims. This figure is 
expected to grow to more than 270 days by 2002. Many of the claims that 
are awaiting action have been filed by World War II and Korean War 
veterans; our World War II veterans are dying at the rate of about 
1,500 a day. The VBA must take action to improve this dismal record.
  I have traveled throughout Wisconsin and met with veterans. This 
problem is consistently one of their top concerns. They are angry and 
frustrated, with justification, about the amount of time it takes for 
the VBA to process their claims. In some instances, veterans are 
waiting well over a year. Telling the men and women who served their 
country in the armed forces that they ``just have to wait'' is wrong 
and unacceptable.
  The VBA Improvement Act will require the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to submit a comprehensive plan to Congress for the improvement 
of the processing of claims for veterans compensation and pension. In 
addition, every six months afterwards the Secretary must report to 
Congress about the status of the program.
  While I am pleased that Secretary Principi has acknowledged that 
improving claims processing is a priority for the VA, nevertheless it 
is time for Congress to hold the Department of Veterans Affairs 
accountable. Our veterans are unable to wait for additional 
recommendations from more reports or task forces. It is time for 
Congress to hold the VA accountable. Our veterans deserve no less.
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