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Obama, Durbin Legislation Requiring VA to Notify IL Veterans About Historically Low Disability Pay Passes Senate

Friday, September 23, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Obama Contact: Robert Gibbs or Tommy Vietor, (202) 228-5511
Durbin Contact: Joe Shoemaker, (202) 224-7028
Date: September 23, 2005

Obama, Durbin Legislation Requiring VA to Notify IL Veterans About Historically Low Disability Pay Passes Senate

WASHINGTON - On Thursday, the Senate passed legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to notify veterans living in states that have historically received below-average disability compensation payments, and provide them with information on how to request a review of past claims, and how to submit new claims.

"For decades, Illinois veterans have received less disability pay than they earned simply because of where they live," said Obama. "It is our moral obligation to make sure that veterans across the state understand they were unfairly shortchanged, and to explain to them what steps they can take to get what they deserve. This legislation will begin to right this injustice that has affected Illinois veterans for decades."

"Americans have a fundamental dedication to fairness," Durbin said. "We would expect that disabled veterans would receive different amounts of disability payments based on the degree and type of their disability, but those payments should not differ so greatly from state to state. This amendment will help restore a level of fairness that Americans expect for our disabled veterans."

Obama and Durbin's amendment was included as part of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill. The legislation would require the VA to:


  • Inform veterans of the past history of below-average disability compensation payments by the VA to veterans in these states. States whose average annual disability compensation payment was less than $7,300 would qualify as below average. In 2003, Illinois veterans received an average of $6,802.


  • Provide veterans in these states with information on how to request a review of past claims and ratings and how to submit new claims. The VA would inform these veterans through mailed notifications to all veterans in the states currently receiving disability compensation, as well as other communications, such as broadcast or print advertisements, to notify veterans whose past claims may have been improperly denied.


In December, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Illinois veterans receive disproportionately less disability pay, on average, than veterans in 49 of the 52 states and territories.