A backlog of veterans’ claims led Congressman Paul Cook to introduce a measure to expedite the most urgent cases. Reporter Dan Stork describes the new bill…
Representative Paul Cook of Yucca Valley has presented the Prioritizing Urgent Claims for Veterans Act, H.R. 2382, to the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. The bill requires the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to give priority status to those veterans who file claims and are either at least 70 years old, are terminally ill, or have a life-threatening illness. Cook said, “Nothing in this legislation would prevent the VA from creating additional priority groups.” He added, “Until the claims backlog is resolved, we must make it a priority to care for veterans who are most in need of the benefits they have earned in service to our country.” Cook thanked Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Chino) for co-sponsoring the legislation. The Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs will vote on the legislation at their next hearing, scheduled for early July.
