A U.S. Senator from Texas is attempting to fight the national VA claims backlog.

Senator John Cornyn filed an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill to address the backlog of disability claims within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Data from the VA shows that the overall number of backlogged veterans’ claims nationwide has more than doubled in the last two years.

“The massive backlog of VA disability claims reminds us that far too many veterans are being underserved,” said Cornyn.

The Texas Veterans Commission recently formed a partnership with the VA to assist Texas veterans whose claims are backlogged, and to help veterans making new claims to file fully-developed ones, shortening the processing time required.

“The VA has not proven up to the task, so the State of Texas has stepped in to pick up some of their slack and help veterans with their claims,” Cornyn continued.

“My bill will require the VA to implement Texas’ model on a national scale, helping to alleviate the backlog and streamline the claims process. Our veterans fulfilled their solemn duties, and it’s about time the VA did the same.”

During the first two months of Texas’ new initiatives, the TVC helped veterans complete more than 2,500 backlogged claims and assisted with the submission of more than 800 fully-developed claims.

Cornyn’s amendment would require the VA to report to Congress with a plan using partnerships between the VA and outside entities, such as state government agencies similar to the Texas Veterans Commission.

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