Veterans and Service Members

Congressman Tierney believes we have an obligation to honor and care for our servicemen and women, their families and our veterans for service, bravery and the sacrifice made on behalf of all Americans. If you are a veteran looking for assistance with the VA, please call my office at 978-531-1669.

Addressing the Department of Veterans Affairs Backlog

After bravely serving their nation, veterans returning from duty often are forced to wait up to hundreds of days for the VA to make a decision on their disability claims. These delays further complicate life for returning vets at a time when they should be able to count on the support of a grateful nation. Congressman Tierney believes that the backlog is unacceptable and is a co-sponsor of the following legislation, all aimed at getting veterans the answers and support they deserve. 

H.R. 1729 – VA Claims Operations and Records Efficiency (CORE) Act: This bill directs the Department of Defense to provide the service records of veterans to the Department of Veterans Affairs in an efficient, electronic format. Currently, the average veteran waits more than 250 days for a decision on a claim. About 175 days of that time is the VA waiting for the DOD to send the complete records, which DOD currently processes on paper rather than electronically. Specifically, the VA CORE Act will codify a plan both agencies agreed upon in February, in which Defense begins the immediate transfer of complete and certified service treatment records to VA, and electronic capabilities are in place.The bill will also require the Department of Defense to provide certified, complete and electronic records to the Department of Veterans Affairs within 90 days of military discharge or release. This bill was included as an amendment to the FY14 Defense Authorization bill.

H.R. 2088, Claims Adjudication Centers of Excellence: This bill requires the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) to establish a pilot for “Conditions Adjudication Centers of Excellence” to help adjudicate the most difficult medical conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, in order to encourage specialization in the VA and reduce the wait time for decisions.

H.R. 2086 – Pay As You Rate Act: This bill would require the VA to pay for medical conditions as they are adjudicated.  Currently, veterans typically receive payment when all medical conditions within a claim are fully adjudicated. This legislation will require VA to pay veterans as individual medical conditions are adjudicated, which will pay veterans at a faster rate. Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan average 8.5 contentions in their claims. While some parts of these claims are complex and time consuming, some components are simpler. The VA should compensate veterans for the simpler components as early as possible while continuing to work on the more complex aspects of a claim.

H.R. 1809 – Faster Filing Act: The bill would require the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) to provide veterans accurate information about faster filing options and encourage them to submit Fully Developed Claims, which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can process in under 100 days because VA employees do not need to track down evidence or engage in time consuming correspondence with the applicant.

H.R. 1805 – Encouraging Automation of Certain VA Claims: It directs the Secretary to include in a required annual report to Congress details on the automatic processing of claims for compensation during the preceding year, including each medical condition for which claims were processed and the number of claims for each condition. As part of that report, the Secretary is directed to include the feasibility for adding additional medical conditions and any barriers that would prevent the VA from adding those medical conditions that are not automated.

H.R. 1521 – This bill ensures veterans can continue to have their medical examinations done by physicians outside the VA system to help process veterans’ disability claims faster. Currently, 20% of claims are processed through physicians outside the VA system, but the program is set to expire this year. This bill extends this program for five years.

H.R. 1623 – VA Claims Efficiency Through Information Act: It directs the Secretary to maintain on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website publicly accessible information concerning pending and completed claims of compensation for a veteran's service-connected disability or death. The bill requires such information to include the number of claims pending and completed, and the average number of days between submission and completion, within certain period.

H.R. 1739 -- Veterans backlog reduction act: Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), in the case of any claim for veterans' disability compensation that is not adjudicated within 125 days after submission, to pay such claimant provisional benefits, from the period beginning on the date of such deadline and ending on the date on which a final claim decision is made.

Congressman Tierney has also joined with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the largest nonprofit group for America’s newest generation of Veterans to urge the Obama Administration to establish a Presidential Commission to address the VA disabilities claims backlog. 

Increasing Educational Opportunities for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans 

Congress passed the G.I. Bill for the 21st Century, which fully restores full, four-year college scholarships for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans - on par with the educational benefits available after World War II.  It also allows veterans to transfer unused educational benefits to their spouses and their children.  Congressman Tierney was an early champion of this legislation, arguing it will make Iraq and Afghanistan veterans part of an American economic recovery, just as the veterans of World War II helped grow and strengthen the American middle class. Those Americans who have stepped forward to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan have earned the right to a bright future when they return home.

The measure took effect on August 1, 2009, and veterans can begin to apply for a certificate of eligibility by clicking HERE.

Veterans Advisory Board

2014 marks the sixth year that Congressman Tierney has consulted his Veterans Advisory Board (VAB), comprised of local veteran's agents, representatives from veteran service organizations, educational institutions and members of the veteran's community. The VAB keeps the Congressman apprised of issues that affect the veteran's community. For example, the VAB immediately recognized the need for returning war veterans and their families to be made aware of all the benefits available to them. As a result the board has assisted the Congressman in organizing veterans' benefit fairs throughout the sixth congressional district.

Ensuring Local Access to Quality Services and Care

During the Clinton Administration, efforts to provide readily accessible quality service to our nation's veterans resulted in the creation of Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) throughout the country. These clinics meant that veterans could receive care closer to home, no longer having to travel significant distances or overcome great obstacles to get necessary outpatient treatment.

One of the first concerns demanding Congressman Tierney's attention upon his election to Congress was to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on this issue with respect to Sixth District veterans. In June 1997, the VA selected Lynn as one of the first two CBOC sites in the Commonwealth. Shortly thereafter, two other sites were added (one in Gloucester, and one in Haverhill, which until 2002 re-districting was in the Sixth District).  The three choices, combined with the hospital in Bedford, meant that Sixth District veterans do not have to travel more than 15 miles to receive care.

Since then, Congressman Tierney has argued that these CBOCs have fulfilled their purpose and their success is evident by the number of veterans throughout the Sixth District who depend on them. Congressman Tierney believes that CBOCs should continue to receive strong support. Congressman Tierney is proud to have worked with the VA to expand the Lynn facility, and he is currently working to expand the Gloucester CBOC. The expansions are intended to increase the use of tele-technology to enhance veterans access and are necessary to meet the needs of local veterans, particularly women veterans, and those who are interested in accessing mental health services.

Fighting for the Bedford VA Hospital

For over five years, Congressman Tierney fought to keep inpatient and outpatient services at Bedford's Edith Nourse Veterans Hospital. In May 2004, the Congressman worked with the 60,000 plus veterans in the Sixth Congressional District and their families to win a major victory, when then-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Principi confirmed the decision of the Capital Realignment and Assessment Commission (CARES) to preserve inpatient and outpatient services at the hospital. In the same announcement, the Secretary directed a study to assess the feasibility of building a single veterans' health facility in Boston.

However, in the years that followed, the VA kept advancing draft proposals that recommended closing or consolidating the Bedford VA Hospital. Deeply concerned about such drafts, Congressman Tierney participated in meetings with VA Secretaries and local officials, and spoke at every public forum regarding our veterans' right to obtain quality care near their homes. In each instance, Congressman Tierney continued to advocate on behalf of the patients, families and the doctors and nurses at the Bedford VA. He continued to press the case that the Bedford VA plays a crucial role in providing quality care to veterans throughout New England and its unique programs and services cannot be replicated elsewhere.

On May 5, 2008, the VA informed Congressman Tierney that the proposed options to close or consolidate the Bedford VA or consolidate aspects of it elsewhere have been rejected and that the Bedford VA will be preserved. The decision signaled the end of the multi-year CARES process and ensured that veterans are able to get the treatment they need closer to home.

In 2013, Congressman Tierney led the way in defeating a misguided proposal that would have altered and compromised services at the Bedford VA. He will continue to stay vigilant to make sure the Bedford VA remains a vibrant facility for veterans to access the care and services they need.

Supporting Funding for Our Veterans

In April, Congressman Tierney voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2015 Military Construction/VA Appropriations bill. This bill builds on the progress of Democratically-led Congresses from 2007 through 2010 for veterans. Since January 2007, the Congress will have provided a 70 percent increase in funding for veterans' health care and benefits, over 10,200 new claims processors to reduce VA case backlogs, 18,000 new doctors and nurses, 145 new community-based vet outpatient clinics, and 92 new vet centers.

Military Family Home Foreclosure Protection

In 2013, Congressman Tierney introduced legislation with Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and others that would expand home foreclosure protections for service members, veterans with disabilities, and their families, in response to reports that military families were struggling to keep a roof over their heads while they or their loved ones are deployed overseas. The legislation, H.R. 1842, the Military Family Home Protection Act expands foreclosure protections to service members serving in support of contingency operations, the surviving spouses of service members whose deaths are service-related, and disabled veterans. This bill also took steps to prohibit banks from discriminating against eligible service members and increase penalties for mortgage-related violations. On June 14, 2013, the House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which included provisions from the Military Family Home Protection Act as an amendment.

Ending Military Sexual Assault

In 2012, there were 26,000 reported incidences of rape and sexual assault in the military, according to Department of Defense estimates. Congressman Tierney believes this is unacceptable and has been supporting legislation designed to empower victims of military sexual assault, and reform many of the systematic causes of these violent crimes:

H.Res.213: A resolution to establish the Special Committee on Sexual Assault and Abuse in the Armed Forces to conduct oversight, ensure accountability, and report on the activities of the Department of Defense to prevent, reduce, prosecute, and provide victims' services for cases of sexual assault and abuse in the Armed Forces.

H.R.1079:  The Military Judicial Reform Act, which amends Article 60 and Article 63 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to take away the power of the convening authority to dismiss, commute, lessen, or order a rehearing after a panel or judge has found the accused guilty and rendered a punishment. The purpose of the bill is to strip military commanders of the unilateral power to overturn convictions or lessen sentences handed down by judges and juries at courts martial.

H.R.1864: Legislation requiring 2 Inspectors General (DOD and DHS (which has jurisdiction over the Coast Guard)) to investigate allegations of retaliatory personnel actions taken in response to making protected communications to such Inspector General regarding alleged instances of rape, sexual assault, or other forms of sexual misconduct in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

H.R. 1867: The Better Enforcement for Sexual Assault Free Environments (BE SAFE) Act of 2013 - takes on the convening authority’s unfettered discretion and authority under Article 60 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice by removing the convening authority’s ability to change or dismiss an adjudged court-martial conviction for any charge or specification except in the case of minor offenses.  It also limits the convening authority’s discretion to commute or lessen the adjudged sentence determinations of a military court-martial.

H.R. 2059: The U.S. Coast Guard STRONG Act, which seeks to ensure victims of sexual assault in the United States Coast Guard are granted an expedited consideration and determination of a request for transfer away from the geographic location of their alleged assailant.

Increasing Benefits for Surviving Spouses

One of the benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). Congressman Tierney recently introduced legislation (H.R. 4741) to increase DIC for surviving spouses and dependent children of seriously disabled veterans and military personnel who died while on active duty or of a service connected disability. Congressman Tierney believes that it is imperative that we compensate surviving spouses of military personnel and seriously disabled veterans at the same rate that dependent survivors of federal civilian employees are compensated. This bill is supported by dozens of respected organizations, including the Gold Star Wives of America, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and AMVETS. My bill ensures that those survivors who are eligible to receive DIC and their Survivor’s Benefits Plan (SBP) annuity can do so without being subjected to another unfair offset