[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 813

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                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of -california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 15, 2011

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, on several occasions when we begin a 
discussion about taking care of veterans, we sometimes bypass or 
overlook the veterans' survivors.
  Today, I am introducing a bill to help our veterans' survivors.
  Mr. Speaker, survivors often serve as the backbone of our veterans. 
In many instances while they are serving and giving selflessly to their 
nation, their loved ones are holding down the homefront for when they 
return.
  However, I believe that current law shortchanges our survivors.
  This bill speaks directly to the appropriateness of our current 
regulations regarding Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) 
because it would shorten the time period for which a veteran must be 
rated continuously totally disabled immediately preceding his or her 
death before the veteran's survivors are eligible for these benefits 
from 10 years to 1 year.
  DIC is a monetary payment made to survivors of our service-connected 
disabled veterans. Survivors deserve to be taken care of when their 
spouse who served and gave their all has died.
  Given the current backlog in the VA's claims processing system, 
veterans wait years, even decades, to receive their final rating. In 
the case of totally disabled veterans, the resulting benefits may, 
unfortunately, come too late. These delays should not negate our 
responsibility to these veterans' families and this legislation would 
ensure that their survivors receive the benefits due to them.
  Mr. Speaker, when we provide for and protect our veterans we must 
always remember to include their survivors. They cannot be an 
afterthought.
  When I was the Chair of this Committee, I always remembered our 
veterans' survivors and made them a priority. I hope we continue that 
tradition in this Congress.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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