[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 39 (Thursday, March 3, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H1277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CLEARING BACKLOGGED VETERAN REQUESTS

  (Mr. KELLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, since November 2020, our team has 
pressured the National Personnel Records Center, the agency responsible 
for processing veterans' service records, to return to full staffing 
levels and expedite the requests of veterans, who in some cases have 
waited over a year for access to their benefits.
  Most recently, the NPRC was operating at 25 percent capacity due to 
the pandemic, but it said it would fully reopen this month. However, 
the agency offered no plan on how it will tackle a backlog that has now 
grown to 600,000 records requests. That is 100,000 more added since 
June 2021.
  The lack of transparency at the NPRC has made it clear that we must 
pass legislation, like the RECORDS Act, to direct the NPRC to fully 
reopen and report to Congress on its efforts to clear out the backlog 
of records requests.
  Our veterans did not hesitate to sacrifice for America, and we must 
not hesitate in our duty to ensure they have a responsive government 
that is attentive to their needs.

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