[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 54 (Thursday, April 3, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S2161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petition or memorial was laid before the Senate and was 
referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-209. A concurrent resolution adopted by the General 
     Assembly of the State of Ohio urging the President of the 
     United States, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the 
     Congress to take prompt action to reduce the processing time 
     for veterans' disability benefit claims; to the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 21

       Whereas, The men and women of the United States armed 
     forces have bravely and selflessly served our country; and
       Whereas, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs 
     disability benefits program provides monetary support to 
     veterans whose military service has caused or aggravated a 
     disabling medical condition; and
       Whereas, The number of veterans applying for disability 
     benefits has increased in recent years because of the large 
     number of new veterans and the expansion of eligibility for 
     benefits for certain service-connected diseases; and
       Whereas, The United States Government Accountability Office 
     reports that between fiscal years 2009 and 2012, the average 
     length of time for the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
     complete a disability claim increased from 161 days to 260 
     days; that the number of backlogged claims, which have been 
     awaiting a decision for more than 125 days, has more than 
     tripled since September 2009; and that appeals processing at 
     the Department's regional offices has slowed by 56 per cent 
     over the last several years: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That we, the members of the 130th General 
     Assembly of the State of Ohio, urge the President of the 
     United States, the United States Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs, and the Congress of the United States to take prompt 
     action to reduce the processing time for veterans' disability 
     benefit claims; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives 
     transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the 
     President of the United States, the United States Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs, the President Pro Tempore and Secretary 
     of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the 
     United States House of Representatives, each member of the 
     Ohio Congressional delegation, and the news media of Ohio.

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