Veterans

The federal government must live up to its responsibilities to properly support the men and women of our armed forces and their families. I firmly believe that this is one of our nation’s chief responsibilities. As a nation, we must pledge that when our troops return home, we leave no soldier behind. We owe our troops more than words of appreciation; we owe them real actions to provide meaningful support.

Veteran’s Claims Backlog

It is unacceptable that our veterans are wait so long for their benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has made significant progress on its huge backlog of veterans’ benefits cases, in which delays at the Oakland Regional VA Office were among the worst in the nation. In the 113th Congress, I cosponsored bills intended to speed up the VA claims processing and increase its efficiency. I will continue to work to ensure that the few that proudly served our country receive the benefits and care they earned.

VA Medical Care

Long wait times and scheduling problems at VA Medical Centers are deeply concerning, and I am working to ensure veterans are receiving timely access to quality care. After learning of long wait times at VA Medical Centers, I wrote to former VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, requesting a system-wide audit of scheduling practices and wait times. I also visited the VA facility in Livermore and was assured by the director and her staff that while long wait times and access issues are occurring at VA centers across the country, this is not the case in the Bay Area. I will diligently work to ensure this remains true and to improve care for all veterans around the country.

What I am Doing for You

I sent a letter to the Appropriations Committee supporting funding for Veterans Treatment Courts. Veterans Treatment Courts provide veterans with substance abuse issues an alternative to incarceration by allowing them to seek mental health services and rehabilitative care instead of being jailed for non-violent, minor drug-related crimes.

I sent a letter to the Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies in support of $164 million for veteran suicide prevention and outreach programs in FY 2017.

Rep. Swalwell and local students deliver Valentines for Vets at the Livermore VA Community Living Center, February 2016.

In the 113th Congress:

I cosponsored H.R. 164, which would allow for veterans who have a service-connected, permanent disability rated as “total” to utilize no-cost, space-available travel on Department of Defense aircraft via the Space-A travel program. 

I cosponsored and voted for H.R. 1344, the Helping Heroes Fly Act, to add protections to improve the experience for severely wounded veterans when they go through airport screening. This bipartisan bill became law. 

I cosponsored H.R.  2150, the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act of 2013, a bipartisan bill to extend the VA’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program through FY 2018. 

I cosponsored H.R. 2086, the Pay as You Rate Act, a bipartisan bill to require the VA to pay a veteran his or her disability compensation benefits as each element of a claim is reviewed rather than making them wait until the entire claim has been processed. 

I voted for H.R. 235, the Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act. This bipartisan bill would provide states with funds to streamline the process by which veterans that were trained and worked as EMTs in the military could receive certification and licenses to serve as EMTs once they return to their home states. 

I voted for H.R. 3230, the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act. This bipartisan bill, which was signed into law, increases transparency regarding the VA’s medical care system and allows veterans to seek private health care under certain circumstances such as long wait times or distance from a VA Medical Center. 

Rep. Swalwell speaks at Castro Valley's Veterans Day ceremony, November 2015.