Rep. Bresnahan introduces legislation to simplify veterans claims
Feb. 13—WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan on Thursday said our military members dedicate their lives to serving our nation and the last thing they need when they come home are mountains of daunting paperwork.
Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township, has introduced his first piece of legislation as a Member of Congress — the bipartisan Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act — that would simplify forms required by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans and survivors.
"Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District is home to the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center and nearly 40,000 veterans," Bresnahan said. "The Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act will ease the burden of paperwork felt by so many of our veterans and their loved ones."
"I came to Congress with the mindset that I am here to make life better for the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania," Bresnahan added. "My first piece of legislation will do just that by taking care of those who fight every day for our freedom. I am grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for joining me to support our nation's past and present soldiers and their families."
Bresnahan introduced the bill alongside U.S. Rep. Don Davis, D-North Carolina, and House Committee on Veterans Affairs' Chairman Mike Bost, R-Illinois. U.S. Representatives Josh Harder, D-California, Jimmy Panetta, D-California, and David Valadao, R-California, are original co-sponsors of the bill.
"Our veterans should not have to jump through hoops just to file basic claims," said Davis. "Exploring ways to cut red tape for those who have served our country is the least we can do so they can focus on taking care of themselves and their families."
Bresnahan said the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) within VA requires veterans and survivors to complete standard forms to initiate and pursue claims for VA benefits, including disability compensation, pension, and survivors' benefits. These forms can often be arduous and difficult to understand for veterans or their survivors, and failure to correctly fill them out can result in delays in processing their claim, delays in receiving a decision on their claim, or even a denial of their claim.
Bresnahan said he introduced the Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act to simplify the forms process to make VA standard forms more user-friendly. He said the legislation would require VA to contract with a nonpartisan, federally-funded research entity to conduct a study on, and provide recommendations for, revising VA forms to be more understandable for veterans and their survivors.
Following this study, Bresnahan said the VA Secretary would be required to report findings to Congress and implement recommendations.
"Filing a compensation claim for benefits from the VA is one of the most vital steps a service member or veterans' survivor takes," said Bost. "However, far too often, completing VA forms can be difficult, leading to unneeded stress. I'm glad to see my friend and colleague, Rep. Bresnahan, reintroduce the Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act this Congress to require the VA to work with a nonpartisan, federally-funded research partner and veterans' and survivors' advocates to study, provide recommendations, and revise VA forms to be clear and understandable for veterans."
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
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