The U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 12 approved a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) that would allow America’s military veterans who have pending benefits appeals cases to conduct them remotely from their personal computers.
Rep. Katko on Oct. 21 cosponsored the VA Tele-Hearing Modernization Act, H.R. 4771, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-SC) to modernize the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) appeals process.
If enacted, H.R. 4771 would require the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, which determines if veterans are entitled to their claimed benefits and other services, to allow veterans with pending appeals to appear before the board “by picture and voice transmission from locations other than VA facilities,” according to the text of the bill.
“I applaud the House for taking up this legislation and urge its swift passage in the Senate,” Rep. Katko said. “By modernizing this process and allowing remote access to hearings before the Board, this legislation will reduce the burden for veterans and their families and allow them to participate in the appeals process from their own homes.”
Currently, the Washington, D.C.-based board only conducts such tele-hearings from regional benefit offices where veterans must be present for the hearing, oftentimes forcing many of them to travel long distances to the nearest regional office, according to Rep. Katko’s office.
“When Central New York veterans appeal a decision by the VA, they are currently required to drive to Buffalo or Albany for a hearing,” said Rep. Katko, referring to a more than two-hour drive time between the locations. “This adds a time-consuming commute to an already stressful process for veterans and their families.”
H.R. 4771, which is supported by Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Wounded Warrior Project, was received in the Senate on Nov. 13 and referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.