Reps. McKeon, Sanchez Join CA Delegation Expressing Concern Over GI Bill Benefit Delays
Bipartisan coalition of lawmakers issue letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (CA-25) and Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) joined a bipartisan coalition of California legislators today to send a letter to Veterans Administration Secretary Eric Shinseski, expressing concern over recent reports that veterans have been experiencing significant delays in receiving their GI Bill benefit checks. Last week, the N.Y. Times reported that the Veterans Administration (VA) has struggled to process a flood of GI Bill claims by veterans who are using these benefits to cover most, if not all, of their college costs. As a result, thousands of veterans have been forced to take out loans or use their savings to pay for tuition and school supplies while they wait for the VA to issue their checks.
Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA)
“I’ve been working tirelessly throughout the year on the Education & Labor Committee and through the Veteran’s Educational Equity Act to ensure our nation’s veterans are receiving the assistance they deserve. I was incredibly disappointed to learn that thousands of veterans have not received their education benefits as promised under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.
“While I appreciate recent efforts made by the VA to issue payments to some veterans, more needs to be done – and quickly. Many veterans’ tuition benefits have still not been processed. Our veterans faithfully served the United States of America and, yet, have not been treated as the heroes they are. As George Washington once said, ‘The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.’ The backlog should be fixed immediately”
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA)
“Last year, Congress enacted the Post-9/11 GI Bill to fulfill its promise of a four-year college education for America’s servicemen and women. Unfortunately, the Veterans Administration has fallen short on that promise. While I am relieved that Secretary Shinseki and the VA are now working to issue backed-up benefit checks, I am concerned that our veterans may continue to experience delays in the future. That possibility is unacceptable, and the VA must take the appropriate steps to ensure it can – and will – handle GI Bill claims in a timely manner.”
Rep. McKeon (R-CA), lead Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Sanchez, ranking female member on the House Armed Services Committee, were joined by California Reps. Henry Waxman (D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Jerry Lewis (R-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Gary Miller (R-CA), Susan Davis (D-CA), Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), Sam Farr (D-CA), Brian Bilbray (R-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), John Campbell (R-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), David Dreier (R-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Wally Herger (R-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Edward Royce (R-CA), Michael Honda (D-CA), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Joe Baca (D-CA), Jane Harman (D-CA), George Miller (D-CA), Laura Richardson (R-CA), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Howard Berman (D-CA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Diane Watson (D-CA) in signing today’s letter to Secretary Shinseki. Collectively, these Members represent over 2 million veterans in California.
