[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10645]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       VA CLAIMS BENEFITS BACKLOG

  (Ms. FOXX asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, as the President looks for a new VA Secretary, 
it is imperative that we not let the veterans health care scandal 
distract from the ongoing efforts to resolve the VA benefits claims 
backlog.
  The VA has undertaken important reforms to streamline the process, 
such as electronic records and working to ensure that initial claims 
include all necessary information. These steps are helping to address 
the backlog; but as the scandal in the health care side of the VA 
continues to unfold and demand the attention of policymakers, we must 
remain focused on effective implementation of these and other benefits 
determination process reforms.
  Mr. Speaker, we are dutybound to do everything we can to ensure our 
veterans have timely access to the benefits they have earned. I am 
committed to ensuring timely access to these benefits, and we must 
ensure the incoming VA Secretary is committed as well.

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