WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) introduced the Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Processing Act. This bill would require the Veterans Affairs Administration (VA) to create a plan and report to Congress on making automation tools available for all Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) offices and the VA Board of Veterans’ Appeals to process benefits claims for survivors and veterans more efficiently. The legislation is supported by House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (IL-12)

“Our veterans have made so many sacrifices for our country, and we need to ensure they have access to the benefits and services they’ve earned,” said Congressman Valadao. “Veterans shouldn’t be waiting months for their benefits because of outdated technology at the VA, but sadly that’s happening across the country. This commonsense bill ensures the VA has the technology and resources they need to review veterans’ claims in a more timely and efficient manner.”

“In order to ensure that our veterans and their families can access the benefits they have earned, we must keep pushing VA forward in their modernization efforts,” said Chairman Bost. “That’s exactly what my friend and colleague, Rep. Valadao’s bill, the Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Processing Act, would do. This commonsense bill would require VA to develop a plan for how all of VBA’s different offices can and should process veterans’ and their survivors’ claims in a more efficient manner. In return, veterans and their families won’t be stuck waiting months on end for answers on their claims. I look forward to moving Rep. Valadao’s vitally important bill through the legislative process as soon as possible.” 

The Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Processing Act would require VA to create a plan, and report that plan to Congress, to make available, to the maximum extent practicable and to all VBA offices and the VA Board of Veterans’ Appeals, automation tools developed for the VA Compensation Service for the purpose of processing veterans’ and survivors’ claims for VA benefits.   

Read the full text of the bill here.

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