Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chairman, this bill makes critical investments in our military and upholds a sacred promise we make to our men and women in uniform that we will stand by them when they return home, but we can do more.

My amendment provides additional funding to end what has been a shameful backlog of disability claims that, for too long, has delayed benefits for veterans throughout the west coast, especially in the San Joaquin Valley that I represent.

The Oakland regional office services the majority of veterans throughout the west coast and in my district. Sadly, it has one of the largest loads of backlogged casework. Currently, more than 10,000 entitlement claims are stuck in this backlog, and the average claim is left pending for nearly 400 days, which is over a year. This is unacceptable. It is immoral.

Yesterday, the Central Valley Honor Flight brought 68 World War II veterans from California to see the World War II Memorial and other important monuments in our Nation's capital. These men and women raised their right hand over 70 years ago and took an oath that they would defend our Nation and our freedom for the future of democracy throughout the world.

Their efforts and their honor is without question. This is a depth that we can never repay. Therefore, it is our obligation to provide them with the care that they earned for their service to our country.

This amendment I am offering today honors the service of these World War II veterans and veterans of all the wars who have served our Nation. Specifically, this amendment provides $10 million to the Veterans Benefit Administration to pay for programs like the veterans' claims intake program, the centralized mail initiative, and staff overtime.

No one can deny that the Veterans Administration recently has taken strong and meaningful steps to end the backlog, but we can do more. They have gone from 2 1/2 years now to over 400 days. Well, that is progress, but it is not good enough.

Our work is not complete until we are able to strip every bit of red tape separating a veteran from the benefits that they have earned and should receive.

I want to thank my colleagues who have cosponsored this amendment: Congressman LaMalfa, Congressman Thompson, Congressman Denham, and Congressman Lowenthal; and I want to thank Chairman Culberson, as well as Ranking Member Bishop for their efforts and good work on this important bill.

I hope that we will adopt this amendment, so that we can do the right thing, which is end this backlog once and for all, so veterans who have served their country can receive the benefits that they so richly deserve.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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