Political Quotes

“As of Monday, there were 596,061 veterans waiting for their claims to be processed by the Veterans Administration. More than half of these claims have been pending for more than 125 days. This is outrageous and simply unacceptable. We are failing our veterans who have put their lives on the line for this Nation and rely on services at the VA for their health care and other benefits upon retirement. As a former lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, I am extremely disappointed with the inability to eliminate the paperwork backlog at the Veterans Administration. The men and women who have served our country honorably, and their families, deserve so much better. In my home State of Michigan at the Detroit Regional Veterans Administration Office almost 49 percent of claims have been pending for more than 125 days. While this number may seem high, it is actually lower than the combined national average, where 53 percent of claims have been pending for more than 125 days. It is unacceptable that, as hundreds and thousands of veterans wait months to have these essential benefits processed, government contractors are able to use taxpayer dollars to purchase first-class travel. There is no way to justify spending on luxury travel for contractors while the VA is dealing with months-long backlogs. It just doesn't make sense. Mr.…”