Costello Hosts Bipartisan Press Conference to Discuss VET Act

Press Release

Yesterday, Rep. Ryan Costello hosted a bipartisan press conference with House Veterans Affairs Committee members, cosponsors of his legislation, and veteran service organizations, to discuss his Veteran Engagement Teams (VET) Act, which unanimously passed the U.S. House on Tuesday night.

The VET Act was introduced by Reps. Costello and Fitzpatrick last year to create a one-stop-shop for veterans to receive assistance navigating the claims process.

"With the mismanagement that we have seen at the Department of Veteran Affairs, including at the Philadelphia VA and other VA regional offices across the country, the VET Act is an especially timely and forward-looking solution for our veterans," said Rep. Costello. "This legislation will create a pilot program that will take VA employees out of the office and place them into the community, where they will provide veterans with direct, one-on-one assistance with their claims at veteran engagement team events."

"The VET Act supports our veterans by monthly community "one-stop-shops' for veterans who want to either start or complete their VA disability or pension claims," said Rep. Fitzpatrick. "This engagement model will have profound effects on the success of their claims, streamlining the process to decrease delays that have frustrated veterans for too long. It will help rebuild the broken trust between the VA and the veterans they serve."

"By getting VA employees out into the field and interacting directly with our veterans, the VA will not only be able to improve the services they provide, and increase their productivity, but they will also be able to get to know the veterans and communities they serve that much better," said Rep. Radewagen, a cosponsor of the VET Act and member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. "By doing this, those VA employees will be able to see directly, how the work they do affects the lives of the veterans they serve," continued the Congresswoman.

The American Legion and Disabled American Veterans also attended the press conference and spoke in support of the legislation.

"American Legion is pleased to see that the House of Representatives has passed Rep. Costello's VET Act," said Warren Goldstein of the American Legion. "This bill helps address the barriers between the Department of Veteran Affairs and the veterans they serve within the community by serving VA employees out into the field to assist veterans with their claims process."

"DAV conducts Veteran Information Seminars to educate veterans and their families on specific veterans' benefits and services earned through military service and provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)," said LeRoy Acosta, Assistant National Legislative Director for Disabled American Veterans. "DAV will continue to work closely with the VA to expand outreach to ensure veterans gain access to health and benefits programs. Passage of the VET Act reinforces our outreach goals."

Rep. Costello thanked Reps. Fitzpatrick, Radewagen, and Titus for their attendance and continued support of the VET Act.

Source