Over the summer, a Department of Veterans Affairs whistleblower came forward claiming that over 34,000 American veterans have been denied benefits, including access to essential healthcare. These veterans were denied care through no fault of their own, rather as a result of incorrect processing requirements and alleged intentional expiration of applications at the VA. If these allegations prove true, and veterans are being denied access to critical healthcare, this is a true failure to our veterans.

As a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, fighting for our veterans who have fought for us and ensuring that our veterans have access to healthcare is one of my top priorities in Congress. Ensuring our veterans receive their benefits in a timely fashion is the least we can do to say “thank you” to those brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms and liberties. The first step that must be taken at the VA is sweeping reforms throughout the entire process to reduce the backlog of claims and appeals.