Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I have sought recognition to urge passage of the bill I have just introduced, the Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act of 2010. Its main provision would require the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, known as the Veterans Court, to hear appeals by veterans of administrative decisions denying them benefits when circumstances beyond their control--sometimes the very service-related disabilities that entitle them to benefits--render them unable to meet the deadline for filing an appeal. Let me briefly explain why this legislation is so urgently needed. Until 1988, veterans denied benefits by the administrative Board of Veterans' Appeals had no right to appeal their cases to any court. Congress responded that year with legislation establishing the Veterans Court. The legislation's purpose was to ``ensure that all veterans are served with compassion, fairness, and efficiency and that each individual veteran receives . . . every benefit and service to which he or she is entitled under law'', S. Rep. 100-418, 110th Cong., 2d Sess. 30-31. Proceedings of the Veterans Court were to be ``informal, efficient, and fair'' rather than ``formalized'', H.R. Rep. No. 100- 963, 110th Cong., 2d Sess. 26, 1988. This was important because most veterans handle their own appeals without a lawyer. Veterans Court has, by and large, served its intended function well. It regularly corrects many erroneous denials of benefits.…”