Schumer Visits Disabled WNY Veteran Dale Dart, Who Has Been Waiting Two Years For VA To Make His Home Wheelchair Accessible; Vet Suffers From Serious illness Sustained While Serving In Iraq And Kuwait & Is Still Confined To His Basement -- Senator Calls For Investigation To Ensure VA Delay Never Happens Again

Press Release

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today, in Hamburg, visited Dale Dart at his home and launched his push for an investigation to ensure the horrible situation Dart has had to endure over the last two years will never happen again. Schumer explained that, two years ago, the Veterans Administration (VA) approved both internal and external home improvements to the Dart home in order to construct a wheelchair accessible addition. Dart is a Gulf War veteran who suffers from multiple sclerosis -- linked to the use of depleted uranium in weapons used by U.S. Armed Forces during his time in Iraq -- and has been confined to his basement because it is the only wheelchair accessible space in his home. In order to restore basic quality of life for a man who suffered serious injuries while serving his country, the VA approved these home improvements. However, following initial approval, a lack of internal communication within the VA over a second contractor needed to finish the work resulted in the project being halted, and more waiting for Dart and his family. Following Schumer's urging last week, the VA will finally designate that second contractor needed to restart construction. Schumer said that while this is good news for Dale Dart and his family, it took far too long, and the process was far too difficult for the family. Therefore, Schumer is pushing for an investigation of the VA's practices when it comes to approving and completing home improvements for disabled veterans. Schumer is therefore urging the VA Inspector General to investigate and ensure what has happened to Dale Dart will never happen again.

"The reality is waiting two years for answers is egregious, that is why I am calling on the VA Inspector General to look at how this happened and ensure such a travesty does not happen again to more veterans who suffer serious illness after serving our country. Dale Dart protected this country when he bravely served overseas, but the sad truth is the VA did not work to protect him upon his return home. After two years of red tape, only after my urging did the VA act to clear the bureaucratic hurdles and allow for construction on the wheelchair accessible addition to his home to resume. That should not have been the case," said Senator Schumer. "While I'm pleased the VA is acting now to make the situation right, this kind of delay to improve the basic quality of life for a soldier who served his country should never have happened and the Dart family should have been in the know every step of the way."

"This has been a harrowing experience for our family. We have spent countless hours on the phone, pouring over plans, and fighting to complete this project," said Pamela Dart, Dale's sister-in-law. "No one who served their country should have to go through this, which is why we asked Senator Schumer to look into fixing this situation so other veterans do not have to go through what we have gone through. We are grateful he has taken on this cause, and for his advocacy on behalf of all veterans."

Schumer explained that when this project originally began, two VA programs -- Independent Living and Specially Adaptive Housing (SAH) -- both agreed that the contractor for the entire project would be KAZ Construction. After two years of planning, they broke ground last month. Around the same time, however, the VA told the Dart family a second contractor for the interior work would be needed, as it involved two different government programs. Schumer said the Dart family made multiple calls to the VA and was not provided any answers from the second contractor for weeks. As a result, the family has continued to wait while the process became mired in red tape. Schumer said that to make matters worse, the contractor doing the exterior work could not communicate with the second contractor doing the interior work, who would be in charge of the electrical wiring, plumbing, hardwood floors, and other related work. As a result, the project and construction of the wheelchair accessible home addition completely halted on June 9th.

Last week, following Schumer's urging, the VA said it would finally designate that second contractor needed to restart construction. Schumer said that while this is good news for Dale Dart and his family, it took far too long and the process was far too difficult for the family. As a result, he called for an immediate investigation to ensure this will never happen to another veteran. Schumer said that there are many other veterans like Dart who made enormous sacrifices in the name of protecting their country, and they should not have to fight to utilize programs meant to help and protect our veterans. Schumer said in many of these cases, bureaucratic hurdles prevents veterans from making the necessary additions and improvements to their homes in a timely manner, and the delay can cause a loss in basic quality of life. Some may not have supportive family members, like Dart does, to help them navigate the process, and therefore may not get the help they need and deserve.

Given the lengthy process the Dart family had to endure, Schumer is demanding the VA not only provide the family answers as to why they had to wait so long but also launch an internal investigation to ensure this scenario does not happen again. Schumer said an investigation of the VA's practices by the VA Inspector General is vital to uncovering what exactly went wrong for Dale Dart and his family. Schumer would like the VA Inspector General to look into the process of approving and constructing home improvements and additions for veterans. Schumer said the Inspector General should look at the causes of such lengthy wait times and recommend a change in VA policy, if necessary. Schumer is also asking that the Inspector General to look into what guidance, if any, is provided to veterans upon approval for such programs.

Schumer said the VA should have been in communication with the Dart family while they sought contractors to complete the initial work and the interior work. However, this did not happen and the Dart family was in the dark until June 9th when construction of the wheelchair accessible home addition was completely halted. Schumer intervened and wrote to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald to demand the VA make a decision on which company would complete the interior work immediately so the project could resume. Last Friday, the VA informed the family that they had made a decision on the second contractor and the project would resume as a result. While Schumer said he was pleased the project is back on schedule, he called for the investigation to ensure that this problem does not repeat itself. Schumer hopes the investigation will allow the VA to overhaul their review process and ensure that veterans are getting their home additions approved in an expedited manner. Schumer also said that if any legislative fix should present itself, he will work with the VA to author a bill.

In addition, during his visit to Buffalo, Senator Schumer finally met and shook hands with Major Patrick Miller, an Allegany native and Western New York service member. Their meeting comes after Schumer learned of Major Miller's heroism and submitted into the Congressional Record a passage to honor and recognize him for his bravery during the tragic Fort Hood shooting in April 2014. Major Miller was born and raised in Allegany and began his service with the United States Army in 2003. He was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas in 2013 and acted heroically after he was shot in the abdomen and severely injured during the shooting that took place on its campus in April 2014. Despite this injury, he led seven others on the base to safety and alerted base security so that they could move others to safety. The Senator thanked Major Miller for his exemplary service and bravery.

Source