FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Thursday, July 6, 2017
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Kristen Hines, 202-224-9126
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Isakson Cites Support for Appeals Reform from VA, Veterans Service Organizations
Legislation seeks to modernize VA benefits claims appeals process
MARIETTA, Ga. –
U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., chairman of the Senate Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs, today highlighted broad support for the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017,
bipartisan legislation he introduced to overhaul the woefully outdated
benefits claims appeals process at the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA).
The VA’s
current appeals process is in desperate need of updating, and nearly
half a million veterans are in limbo because of the VA’s existing
backlog. Between fiscal year 2015 and fiscal year 2017, the number of
pending appeals increased from approximately 380,000 to 470,000 – a more
than 20 percent increase.
To improve
the process, Isakson’s measure would create three separate paths for
veterans to choose from when seeking redress from a decision by the
Veterans Benefits Administration on their claims for VA benefits. Many
veterans currently awaiting a decision on existing appeals will have the
ability to opt-in to one of the new paths that best fits their needs.
The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs passed the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 on June 28, and the bill now heads to the full Senate for a vote.
The bill was
introduced by Isakson and Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., on May 3,
and has the support of 24 other Republican and Democrat senators.
Additional co-sponsors of the legislation include U.S. Senators Tammy
Baldwin, D-Wis., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.,
Thad Cochran, R-Miss., Susan Collins, R-Maine, Mike Crapo, R-Idaho,
Steve Daines, R-Mont., Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Maggie
Hassan, D-N.H., Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Dean
Heller, R-Nev., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Tim Kaine, D-Va., Angus King,
I-Maine, Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., Bill Nelson,
D-Fla., Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Jon Tester, D-Mont., John Thune, R-S.D.,
Tom Udall, D-N.M., and Mark Warner, D-Va.
The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 is
supported by VA Secretary David Shulkin and VA state directors around
the country. This legislation has also won the support of several
veterans groups that represent millions of veterans in the United
States.
Supportive statements are included below:
The Department of Veterans Affairs
“I want to
thank the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee for its bold action on VA
appeals modernization. I look forward to the full Senate passing the
bill quickly to help us move the antiquated appeals process into the
modern era, and provide veterans with much quicker resolution of their
appeals - something we have long sought.” – VA Secretary David Shulkin
The National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs
“S. 1024, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017,
is a model of meaningful and well thought out bipartisan legislation
for our nation’s veterans. The product of nearly two years of work and
cooperation between members of both the U.S. Senate and House and their
staffs, VA, Veterans Service Organizations and advocates, it superbly
takes into account and balances needs of many stakeholders; most
importantly, America’s veterans and tax payers. The new law, once
enacted, will make a real difference in getting disability and
compensation appeals decisions in a more timely manner, while
maintaining due process for veterans. It would be an understatement to
say that this landmark bill (S. 1024), once passed, will be one of the
most historic pieces of veterans legislation in recent history.” - Randy Reeves, President, National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs
The American Legion
“On the
behalf of the 2.2 million members of The American Legion, we thank
Senators Isakson and Blumenthal for drafting legislation aimed at
helping veterans expedite appeals to their VA disability claims with the
goal of reducing wait-times to less than a year. We have been working
intimately with this committee for over a year on this effort and are
satisfied that this bill will enhance veterans rights, modernize and
expedite the appeals process, and ultimately reduce costs through
greater efficiency. We thank both the Senate and House of
Representatives for working together in a bipartisan manner to assist
the fine men and women who have proudly served our nation. The American
Legion supports this legislation as currently written and looks forward
to its passage. The Legion will work tirelessly throughout the year to
ensure this program is successful, and help veterans understand the
changes in law and how they will be able to succeed.” - Charles E. Schmidt, The American Legion National Commander
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
"Appeals
modernization is long overdue and it is imperative that Congress pass
this important legislation. With more than 1,900 accredited
representatives around the world, representing nearly 500,000 veterans
in prosecuting their benefit claims before the VA, the VFW can attest to
how the new appeals framework would better serve veterans. Congress
must act to ensure veterans receive the benefits they have earned in a
timely manner. The VFW appreciates the chairman's strong commitment to
veterans." - Brian Duffy, National Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
“DAV strongly supports the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 as
a means of improving the efficiency and accuracy of the claims and
appeals process for veterans. Lengthy delays in the decision-making
process are not only unacceptable, they unnecessarily force veterans to
wait for their earned benefits. This is an historic opportunity to enact
significant reform that not only drastically improves the adjudication
process, but will also protect veterans’ rights. DAV thanks Chairman
Isakson, Ranking Member Tester and Senator Blumenthal for their
continued support of this issue, and we urge enactment of appeals reform
this year.”– Dave Riley, DAV National Commander
American Veterans (AMVETS)
“AMVETS applauds the introduction of, S. 1024, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017.
It is refreshing when such a thorough piece of bipartisan and bicameral
legislation is introduced. If passed, this measure will improve the
lives of hundreds of thousands of veterans stalled and stuck in the
broken appeals process. AMVETS is pleased that this bill addresses the
input of a variety of stakeholders; that it protects the effective date
of a benefits award; and that it further refines and improves the
process to accomplish in an average of 125 days what is currently taking
up to 1,825 days (5 years).” - Joe Chenelly, AMVETS National Executive Director
Paralyzed Veterans of American (PVA)
"Forcing
paralyzed veterans to wait years for a decision on an appeal is
unconscionable, particularly in cases where the veteran ultimately
prevails. As Paralyzed Veterans of America worked over the past year to
build a system characterized by timelier and more accurate decisions, we
applaud those who stood with us to ensure expediency did not come at
the expense of justice for veterans who live with some of the most
severe conditions, such as spinal cord dysfunction and traumatic brain
injury. This reform protects due process rights for veterans with the
most complex issues, and puts veterans across the country on a faster
path to receiving the benefits they've earned by virtue of their service
to our country." - Gabriel Stultz, Legislative Counsel, Government Relations, Paralyzed Veterans of America
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The
Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is chaired by U.S. Senator Johnny
Isakson, R-Ga., in the 115th Congress. Isakson is a veteran himself –
having served in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966-1972 – and has
been a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs since he
joined the Senate in 2005. Isakson’s home state of Georgia is home to
more than a dozen military installations representing each branch of the
armed forces as well as more than 750,000 veterans.