U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) led a bipartisan effort on Wednesday to give congressional staffers access to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) records to help eliminate a claims backlog.
Davis and U.S. Reps. Ted Yoho (R-FL) and Patrick Murphy (D-FL) co-authored a letter to VA Secretary Robert McDonald requesting read-only access to VA records for congressional offices working to eliminate a backlog of 70,000 pending cases. Seventy-four House members signed the letter.
“While other agencies allow caseworkers to track their claims through an online system, the VA does not and remains one of the most difficult agencies to get updates for constituents who have requested our help,” Davis said. “My office has more than 90 open cases with the VA — more than any other agency. By allowing congressional staff access to this information, we can help get veterans the timely answers they need and deserve. I hope the VA will work with us to implement this commonsense change that will create much-needed transparency within the system and help eliminate the backlog of cases.”
Davis previously introduced the Access to Veterans Benefits Improvement Act, H.R. 3335, which would require the VA to grant congressional offices access to records. The letter sent on Wednesday asked McDonald to voluntarily grant that access.
“This request is a win-win for everyone: veterans, the VA and congressional staff,” Yoho said. “It is unfortunate that our veterans continued to wait extended periods of time for their claims to move through the VA backlog. Granting read-only access will help expedite the claims process and help alleviate the workload faced by the VA and the congressional staff processing these claims. Our veterans have given our country so much, have honorably served, and red tape should not meet them during their time of need.”
Murphy said granting congressional offices direct electronic access to records would help “cut through some of the red tape” and get veterans more timely care.
The letter to McDonald also called for an update on proposed user-centered design sessions that would bring veterans, VA officials and congressional members together to workshop solutions together.