The U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano and many Democratic members of the Committee released a letter, sent to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, questioning VA’s decision not to decide any claims for Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans until January 2020. In their letter, Members wrote that while H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, gives VA the ability to stay Blue Water claims, “we have questions about the decision to stay all claims without exception” as some of these veterans “cannot wait until January for assistance.”
The letter also asked whether VA has begun delivering healthcare benefits to these veterans. Members urged VA to proactively work with Congress to ensure the implementation process goes smoothly and requested a detailed and comprehensive implementation plan.
The letter was signed by Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) and Reps. Conor Lamb (PA-17), Julia Brownley (CA-26 ), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Mike Levin (CA-49), Elaine Luria (VA-02), Susie Lee (NV-03), Joe Cunningham (SC-01), Gilbert Cisneros (CA-39), Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (Northern Mariana Islands), Max Rose (NY-11), and Anthony Brindisi (NY-22).
To see the full press release and full text of the letter, please click HERE.