1Memorializing the President and the Congress of the United
2States to increase funding for the United States Department
3of Veterans Affairs so it may provide exceptional services to
4all veterans, including the veterans residing in this
5Commonwealth.

6WHEREAS, The mission of the United States Department of
7Veterans Affairs is to fulfill President Lincoln's promise "[t]o
8care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow
9and his orphan" by serving and honoring the men and women who
10are America's veterans; and

11WHEREAS, The official veteran population projection as of
12September 30, 2011, was 22,676,149 of whom 2,224,547, or
13approximately 9%, were women; and

14WHEREAS, There are an estimated 2.6 million veterans of the
15Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts; and

16WHEREAS, The female veteran population is projected to
17increase approximately 18% of the total veteran population by
18the year 2040; and

1WHEREAS, African Americans currently represent approximately
211% of the veteran population, with the percentage projected to
3increase to more than 16% by 2040; and

4WHEREAS, Individuals of Hispanic descent currently represent
5approximately 6% of the veteran population with the percentage
6projected to increase to approximately 12% by 2040; and

7WHEREAS, The Department of Veterans Affairs has seen a steady
8increase in the number of veterans seeking mental health care in
9recent years, from about 927,000 cases in fiscal year 2006 to
10more than 1.3 million in fiscal year 2012; and

11WHEREAS, The Department of Veterans Affairs views and treats
12a range of physical and mental health issues, including, but not
13limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain
14injury, military sexual trauma, homelessness and suicide; and

15WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress disorder is found in 11% to
1620% of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts; and

17WHEREAS, Traumatic brain injury accounts for 19% of claims by
18veterans from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan; and

19WHEREAS, Military sexual trauma encompasses rape, sexual
20assault and sexual harassment and an estimated 26,000 service
21members experienced unwanted sexual contact between the 2011
22fiscal year and the 2012 fiscal year; and

23WHEREAS, According to the Department of Defense, 3,374 cases
24of military sexual trauma were reported in the 2012 fiscal year;
25and

26WHEREAS, Homelessness and death by suicide are two of the
27biggest issues facing veterans today; and

28WHEREAS, An estimated 13% of the adult homeless population
29consists of veterans; and

30WHEREAS, As of 2012, the average number of veterans dying

1from suicide every day ranges from 18 to 22; and

2WHEREAS, There are approximately 995,135 veterans currently
3residing in this Commonwealth; and

4WHEREAS, The regional offices of the Department of Veterans
5Affairs process compensation, pension, education, vocational
6rehabilitation and employment, loan guaranty and insurance
7claims for veterans, their families and survivors; and

8WHEREAS, In excess of 16,000 claims are currently pending in
9the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office and Insurance
10Center in Philadelphia; and

11WHEREAS, As of November 2010, approximately 537,000 veterans
12from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have sought health
13care from the Department of Veterans Affairs in this
14Commonwealth since returning Stateside; and

15WHEREAS, The average claim at the Department of Veterans
16Affairs Regional Office and Insurance Center in Philadelphia has
17been pending 242 days, and the average pending claim at the
18Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office and Insurance
19Center in Pittsburgh is 290 days; and

20WHEREAS, As of September 30, 2013, there were 725,469 pending
21claims throughout the United States, 421,793 of which were
22pending over 125 days; and

23WHEREAS, The Department of Veterans Affairs' backlog dates to
241994, when the time to process a claim went from 150 days to
25more than 200 days; and

26WHEREAS, Our veterans deserve timely access to services that
27have the ability to ensure physical shelter and a high caliber
28of mental health treatment necessary for a quality life; and

29WHEREAS, The Department of Veterans Affairs faces issues that
30can be rectified through proper funding; therefore be it

1RESOLVED, That the Senate memorialize the President and the
2Congress of the United States to increase funding for the United
3States Department of Veterans Affairs so it may provide
4exceptional services to all veterans, including the veterans
5residing in this Commonwealth; and be it further

6RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
7the President of the United States, the presiding officers of
8each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from
9Pennsylvania.