Yesterday, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) led a group of veterans serving in Congress in sending a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie, calling for full repayment of benefits owed to veterans under the Forever GI Bill.
The letter follows troubling reports that Department of Veterans Affairs officials do not intend to reimburse veterans for acknowledged underpayment of benefits required by law.
Original Title
Rep. Gallego and Veterans in Congress Call for Full Reimbursement of Underpaid GI Benefits
Yesterday, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) led a group of veterans serving in Congress in sending a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie, calling for full repayment of benefits owed to veterans under the Forever GI Bill.
The letter follows troubling reports that Department of Veterans Affairs officials do not intend to reimburse veterans for acknowledged underpayment of benefits required by law.
Yesterday, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) led a group of veterans serving in Congress in sending a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie, calling for full repayment of benefits owed to veterans under the Forever GI Bill.
The letter follows troubling reports that Department of Veterans Affairs officials do not intend to reimburse veterans for acknowledged underpayment of benefits required by law.
Congress of the United States
‘Washington, BC 20515
November 29, 2018
‘The Honorable Robert Wilkie
Secretary
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20420
Dear Secretary Wilkie:
‘We write today to address deeply troubling reports that Department of Veteran Affairs
(VA) officials do not intend to reimburse veterans for acknowledged underpayment of benefits
required by the law known as the Forever GI Bill. While we appreciate Undersecretary Paul
Lawrence's comments at the House Veteran A fairs Committee hearing this moming indicating
reimbursements would be forthcoming, we remain concerned about the serious impacts of
persistent delays and continued uncertainty on our nation’s veterans.
As veterans ourselves, these reports are deeply dismaying to us, and we urge you to work
toward a swift solution that will not further jeopardize the educational pursuits, housing, or
financial security of veterans and their families. Our nation’s veterans have served our country
with honor, often making incredible sacrifices to do so. It is imperative that we also honor our
promises to them in return,
As you know, the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017
(Public Law 115-48), also known as Forever GI Bill, was signed into law in 2017. Yet, since its
effective date of August 1, 2018, veterans have withstood recurrent delays and financial losses as
the agency struggled to update legacy IT systems to adequately account for the changes in law.
In some cases, payments to beneficiaries were delayed up to two months causing problems as
severe as eviction and inability to pay for basic needs such as food. Further, the second order
losses suffered by veterans and their families — emotional stress, undeserved interest charges and
overdraft fees, and educational and professional setbacks ~ cannot be made whole. This
treatment of our nation’s courageous veterans cannot continue.
Itis imperative that the VA promptly address the technical problems contributing to these
delays, provide veterans certainty in their planning, and restore veterans’ trust that their earned
benefits will be timely and wholly delivered.We look forward to your prompt response and plans to address these concerning and
persistent issues.
Sincerely,
Ruben Gallego fo
Member of Congress
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Tulsi Gabbard
Member of Congress
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Chris Stewart
‘Member of Congress
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Robert C. “Bobby” Scott
Member f Congress Member of Congress