Congressman Morgan McGarvey Introduces Veterans’ Appeals Backlog Improvement Act
Congressman Morgan McGarvey Introduces Veterans’ Appeals Backlog Improvement Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 7, 2023) – Today, Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03) introduced the Veterans’ Appeals Backlog Improvement Act alongside his Veterans Affairs Committee colleague Rep. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06). Reps. Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Nikki Budzinksi (IL-13) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) are original co-sponsors.
“Disabled veterans deserve a system that provides access to their earned benefits in a fair and timely manner, so I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort to address the growing backlog of VA disability compensation appeals,” said Rep. McGarvey. “This bill will allow the VA and Board of Veterans’ Appeals to establish a legal internship program, hire more young attorneys, and create better access to resources, cutting down on delays and improving veterans’ lives. It’s crucial that we continue to best serve those who served us.”
This bipartisan bill would improve the Board of Veterans’ Appeals ability to hire qualified attorneys and address the backlog of disability claims by:
- Establishing a competitive internship program for high-performing law students at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Board of Veterans’ Appeals
- Creating a nine-year pilot program to recruit, hire, and incentivize high-performing entry-level attorneys
- Authorizing a report on improving access to tele-hearings
“We have a responsibility to look after our veterans, especially those who have sacrificed so much for our country,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “No veteran should be forced to wait for vitally important disability payments. These programs will enlist our brightest legal minds to assist the Board of Veterans’ Appeals with overcoming this unacceptable backlog. It will also offer aspiring public servants an invaluable opportunity to serve their country.”
“DAV has long called on Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs to support significant and meaningful reforms aimed at addressing the growing backlog of VA claims and appeal processing,” said DAV National Service Director Jim Marszalek. “A key measure in modernizing these processes is providing the Board of Veterans’ Appeals with adequate resources to better support its judges. By establishing an internship program and authorizing the hiring of entry-level attorneys, the Veterans’ Appeals Backlog Improvement Act would vastly improve the Board’s ability to hire and retain qualified attorneys to help address the backlog of appeals. DAV is proud to support this legislation and applauds Reps. Ciscomani and McGarvey for their bipartisan leadership on this important issue.”
###
Congressman Morgan McGarvey represents Kentucky’s Third Congressional District, including Louisville and Jefferson County. He serves on the House Veterans Affairs and House Small Business Committees.