Alan Lowenthal: “First, I rise in support of the Costa amendment. I also want to thank Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Bishop and…”

“First, I rise in support of the Costa amendment. I also want to thank Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Bishop and also Representative Costa for the time that they have given me to speak about this. My congressional district is home to the Long Beach VA, which is one of the largest institutions for veterans in southern California. In California, there is currently one congressional affairs analyst to assist 33 congressional offices that have questions about casework. There are delays in responses to congressional caseworkers and an even longer delay in aid and attendance claims, particularly when those claims regard elderly frail veterans with rapidly declining health issues and sometimes, unfortunately, approval comes too late. While it is critically important that we provide overtime pay for workers who are already stretched thin--and I think that is critically important--I also encourage the department to use some of these funds to hire additional staff. I urge my colleagues to support the Costa amendment to H.R. 4486 and encourage the Veterans Benefits Administration to hire more staff to address the VA backlog and to help our Nation's veterans. I yield back the balance of my time. The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Costa). The amendment was agreed to. The CHAIR. The Clerk will read.…”