Legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA) to better process veteran disability claims was the subject of a committee hearing on Wednesday.
The House Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing on Costello’s Veteran Engagement Teams (VET) Act, H.R. 3936, which would send Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees into the community to provide one-on-one assistance to veterans.
“My legislation would offer a solution to the veteran who needs assistance navigating the VA claims process,” Costello said. “Many veterans unfortunately struggle to navigate the VA’s bureaucracy to submit their disability claims and receive the benefits they are due.”
The bill would provide veterans with direct access to VA employees in an effort to reduce wait times, miscommunication and lost paperwork. Additionally, the bill would direct VA employees to provide step-by-step instructions to veterans who are unable to complete a claim in one sitting.
Representatives for the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Paralyzed Veterans America support Costello’s VET Act.
In support of the measure, the American Legion said that it “would dramatically help veterans receive the benefits they have earned by addressing the barriers between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the veterans they serve within the community by sending VA employees into the field to assist with their claims processing.”