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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 20, 2013 02:34 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Michael J. Stack |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Resolution to have Congress reduce backlog for returning veterans |
| In the near future, I will offer a resolution on the floor of the Senate to call upon the President of the United States, Congress and and the Department of Veterans Affairs to use every resource available, including civilian healthcare and specialty care facilities, to eliminate these backlogs and provide timely and efficient care to our military personnel. The United States has 1,429,995 active duty military personnel providing military security for the citizens of the United States and around the world. The Department of Defense reports that 131,952 men and women are currently deployed to combat zones on foreign soil. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) expects that disability claims will reach 1.2 million in 2013 and the VA estimates that 585,000 veterans are backlogged and awaiting care they desperately need. 22,000 of those backlogged claims are in Pennsylvania’s two regional offices. The average wait for disability claims nationwide is almost one year. On average, veterans wait 298 days in Pittsburgh to have a claim processed and 257 days in Philadelphia. We need to do everything within our power to make sure that our returning men and women get the very best possible care as quickly as they can possibly receive it. I ask you to join me in asking our leaders in Washington to find a speedy resolution and reduce this backlog for those who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms. |
Introduced as SR182