SWALWELL, THOMPSON, LOCAL LAWMAKERS URGE VA TO HIRE AN EXPERIENCED OAKLAND VA DIRECTOR TO END CLAIMS BACKLOG

CALIFORNIA – U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell (CA-15) and Mike Thompson (CA-5) led a bipartisan letter signed by 19 California Members of Congress to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki urging a supremely qualified candidate with a proven record of success to fill the open director position at the Oakland VA. The hiring decision is of utmost importance, as the Oakland VA has one of the worst benefits claims backlogs of all regional offices across the country, with veterans waiting on average more than a year to have their benefits case resolved. Current Oakland VA Director Douglas Bragg will retire effective January 2014.

"It's a disgrace that veterans in the Bay Area are still waiting on average 422 days to complete their claims at the Oakland VA," said Swalwell. "We owe our veterans more than just gratitude; it is our duty to serve them as well as they have served us, and right now the Oakland VA isn't living up to its mission. I sincerely hope Secretary Shinseki will select a qualified director that is committed to working with Bay Area Members of Congress to eliminate the backlog and restore our confidence in the VA system."

"The current backlog at the Oakland VA office is unacceptable and must be fixed," said Thompson. "The new director must be someone who will address this issue in a timely and responsive manner. No one who has served our nation in the military should be forced to wait for the benefits they've earned because of bureaucratic problems at their local VA."

"Getting claims right is important, but it is just as important to get them in a timely manner. No veteran should have to beg for his or her benefits," said Rep. Sam Farr.

The letter was also signed by Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-13), Jackie Speier (CA-14), George Miller (CA-11), Sam Farr (CA-20), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Tom McClintock (CA-4), Doug LaMalfa (CA-1), David Valadao (CA-21), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Jerry McNerney (CA-9), Jim Costa (CA-16), Raul Ruiz (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Ami Bera (CA-7), Jared Huffman (CA-2), Mike Honda (CA-17), and Doris Matsui (CA-6).

The letter is below:

Dear Secretary Shinseki:

We are writing to urge you to keep the benefits backlog in mind as the Department of Veterans Affairs carefully considers a new director for the Oakland Regional Office.

Oakland Regional Office Director Douglas Bragg recently announced his intention to retire. While we appreciate Director Bragg's service to our nation, unfortunately the Oakland Regional Office continues to have one of the worst one of the worst benefit claims backlogs of all of the regional offices across the country.

We recognize that the backlog is a national problem, but it is particularly acute in Oakland. As of December 2, 2013, the wait time for a veteran to have their case resolved was 422 days. Although this number has improved slightly in recent months, it is unacceptable for a veteran to wait over a year to resolve a claim.

The long wait time at the Oakland Regional Office makes it critical that you select a new director who is supremely qualified, responsive, and has a proven track record of successful leadership. As you know, we have been engaged in an ongoing effort to eliminate the claims backlog through a wide range of legislative and administrative channels, so that we can ensure that we serve our veterans as well as they have served our country. An important step in making these efforts successful is ensuring that the next director redoubles efforts to eradicate the claims backlog at the Oakland Regional Office. Given that there remains much work to be done to achieve our mutual goal of ending the backlog as quickly as possible, we must pursue every avenue that helps move us toward that goal.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Should you have questions regarding this issue, please contact Katelynn Anderson with Rep. Eric Swalwell at Katelynn.Anderson@mail.house.gov or by phone at 202-225-5065.

Sincerely,

Eric Swalwell (CA-15)

Mike Thompson (CA-5)

Barbara Lee (CA-13)

Jackie Speier (CA-14)

Doug LaMalfa (CA-1)

Sam Farr (CA-20)

Michael M. Honda (CA-17)

Zoe Lofgren (CA-19)

George Miller (CA-11)

Jerry McNerney (CA-9)

David G. Valadao (CA-21)

Jim Costa (CA-16)

Raul Ruiz (CA-36)

Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18)

Tom McClintock (CA-4)

Julia Brownley (CA-26)

Jared Huffman (CA-2)

Doris O. Matsui (CA-6)

Ami Bera (CA-7)