House Republicans Lead Push to Expand Veterans’ Disability Claim Appeals Options

House Republicans Lead Push to Expand Veterans' Disability Claim Appeals Options

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), and Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), released the following statements after they introduced H.R. 7793, the Veterans Appeals Options Expansion Act of 2024. Comprehensive legislation that builds on the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 [Public Law No: 115-55] to expand veterans' appeals options through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Board of Veterans' Appeals when seeking their disability compensation benefits.

"I was proud to lead the landmark Appeals Modernization Act in 2017 to make needed reforms and improvements to the VA appeals system. This bill rightfully gave veterans more choice and control over their appeal," said Chairman Bost. "However, there is more work to do to make sure veterans are well-served and receive timely, accurate disability compensation benefits decisions. Which is why I'm proud to lead the Veterans Appeals Options Expansion Act alongside my friends, Chairwoman Stefanik and Rep. Bilirakis, to open up even more avenues for veterans to get their earned disability compensation benefits. Veterans and their families need a benefits system that works with them. This bill would build on our work to do just that."

"As the Representative of Upstate New York and the North Country which is home to the largest population of veterans and retirees in New York State, I am honored to introduce the Veterans Appeals Options Expansion Act of 2024 to deliver well deserved timely and accurate disability compensation benefits to the brave men and women who honorably served our country," said Rep. Stefanik. "This crucial legislation makes needed reforms to a decaying VA appeals process putting American veterans back in the driver's seat giving them more control and more options. Our American veterans deserve better, this key legislation ensures that our selfless veterans get access to their well-deserved VA benefits."

"In recent years, I've seen a significant rise in constituent complaints related to the bureaucratic red tape Veterans have faced when filing claims and appeals," said Rep. Bilirakis. "Veterans deserve to have evidence of their claims evaluated by a qualified professional in a timely and efficient manner. I'd like to thank Chairman Bost and his team for their responsiveness when I brought these concerns to their attention and for their many months of hard work in developing legislative solutions that will hopefully remove many of the barriers Veterans face when accessing the benefits they've earned and deserve."

To learn more about H.R. 7793, the Veterans Appeals Options Expansion Act, click here. Bill text can be found here.

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