 |
| Wilson Goes to Bat for Veterans |
February 13, 2004 |
| |
Albuquerque, NM – Congresswoman Heather Wilson is working to make sure that a promise made is a promise kept for America`s veterans.
Wilson, R-NM, is concerned that many eligible veterans in New Mexico have not yet received the Combat Related Special Compensation due them, because of slow processing of paperwork in the Department of Defense.
Today, Wilson released a letter she sent to Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, expressing her concerns in the delay in payments reaching veterans and urging that the Committee look into the matter and hold hearings.
“I’m disappointed by the slow motion at the Defense Department. That’s not fair to veterans,” Wilson said.
Combat Related Special Compensation was established in the Defense authorization Act for 2003 for people who were 50 percent or more disabled in a combat related incident and who also retired from the military. Wilson, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, worked on the Defense Authorization Bill for FY 2004 which extended this benefit to combat-related disabled veterans with a disability rating of 10 percent or higher.
“Some of my constituents who are eligible have been turned down without explanation,” Wilson says. “It’s taking up to a year to get the paperwork done.”
Text attached:
February 10, 2004
The Honorable Duncan Hunter
Chairman
House Armed Services Committee
2120 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Hunter,
Since Combat Related Special Compensation has become law, very few of those military retirees who are eligible for that benefit have actually received it. Those that have received it have, in many instances, had to wait for nearly a year or more.
New programs, especially those of this size and nature, take time to fully implement. Every new program will have its teething problems. The Department of Defense has moved too slowly to implement this program and may have used discretion that it does not have to delay many applications. Some of my constituents who are eligible have been turned down without explanation.
In the Defense Authorization Bill for FY 04 we extended this benefit to all combat related disabled veterans with a disability rating of 10% or higher. Extending this benefit was the right thing to do. I fear, however, that the Department of Defense will use this opportunity to further delay the implementation of CRSC and that many deserving veterans will continue to go without this benefit.
Mr. Chairman, our committee is responsible for overseeing the implementation of this law. I would respectfully ask that you consider holding a hearing on DoD implementation of the Combat Related Special Compensation program and how they plan to accelerate claims processing for CRSC.
Thank you for considering my request and for your leadership.
Sincerely,
Heather Wilson
Member of Congress
HW:ce
—END— |
|
|
|