July 31 , 2008

House backs VA benefits bill; No Senate bill yet

Hundreds of thousands of veterans' claims could be cleared more quickly if a bill sponsored by Rep. John Hall, and passed by the House of Representatives Wednesday, is enacted.

The Veterans Disability Benefits Claims Modernization Act of 2008 passed unanimously in the House Wednesday, the Dover Democrat said. The House bill has been sent to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

"The VA is in dire need of change and it is time to modernize the disability claims system," Hall said in floor debate.

As of July 26, the Department of Veterans Affairs had 621,000 of those claims pending, with almost 23 percent of them more than 6 months old. The VA's New York region had about 10,700 pending with almost 27 percent more than 6 months old.

Veterans who become paralyzed or lose their limbs in combat usually have to go through the claims process to receive compensation. Under the bill, veterans could receive payments right away for undisputed injuries, Hall said. If a veteran dies, the surviving spouse could continue with the claims process without having to start the process over, Hall said.

If the legislation does not get approved in the Senate, the number of claims could surpass one million next year, Hall said.

The legislation does not have a Senate sponsor yet, but Hall said he is talking to several people.

Iraq veteran Kieran Michael Lalor, a Republican running for Hall's seat, said the measure has some good ideas. But, "he's (Hall) been working on it for 18 months and he doesn't have a Senate sponsor," Lalor said.

Lalor served in Iraq as a member of the Marine Corps Reserve.

The measure also requires the Veterans Affairs to upgrade its files with the latest computer technology and software.

Lalor agreed immediate compensation for undisputed injuries and technology upgrades are good ideas. But he's concerned about funding for health care.

Funding for veterans’ health care is not mandatory, said Daniel Morea, deputy director of Yonkers Veterans Service Agency. However, Congress is mandated to pay for veteran’s claims.

If money were to run short for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs services or expenses, such as compensation, a supplemental bill could be passed to add more funding to the VA’s budget, Morea said.

"That's why I will be pushing everybody for mandatory funding for veterans' health care," Lalor said.