September 28, 2009

Buyer: GI Bill Backlog Foreseeable and Preventable; Applauds VA for Issuing “Emergency Payments”

For more information, contact: Brain Lawrence (202) 225-3527

Washington, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member Steve Buyer made the following statement on Secretary Shinseki’s recent announcement that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would provide “emergency payments” to veterans who are awaiting payment of their education claims.

“I have heard reports of veterans taking out personal loans to pay for books and living expenses due to extended processing times for education claims.  The Secretary is now doing what the situation requires by offering these ‘emergency payments’ to veterans.” 

“Unfortunately, the current situation was foreseeable and could have been prevented if VA had asked Congress for more resources. The Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity has held five oversight hearing on this issue and VA never once requested additional resources.”  

For more news from House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Republicans, please go to:

http://www.republicans.veterans.house.gov/

http://www.youtube.com/user/VetAffairsRepublican

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