Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost for getting these bills to the floor, including this important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bipartisan legislation, H.R. 8260, the Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors Act. It is a bipartisan bill that ensures that VA quickly identifies, locates, and pays surviving family members the life insurance benefits they are owed. VA's insurance service already has some tools in place to identify, locate, and pay hard-to-find beneficiaries, but more can be done to prevent these survivors from needlessly waiting during what is likely a difficult time, both emotionally and financially. My bipartisan bill, the Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors Act, will make much needed reforms to allow VA to better identify and locate surviving family members of recently deceased veterans. By making these reforms, we will make sure they receive the payments and benefits they were owed in a timely manner. According to the VA, the Department owed more than $155 million to 15,000 individuals at the end of September 2020. For a widow or widower who is struggling to make ends meet, a life insurance payment of $10,000 makes a world of difference. Alfred, a constituent of mine in Rochester, New Hampshire, and a Korean war veteran, shared how much this bill will mean to his family. His father-in-law, a veteran of World War II, passed away last year.…”