H. C. R. No. 21 As Adopted by the House

As Adopted by the House

130th General Assembly

Regular Session

2013-2014

H. C. R. No. 21

Speaker Batchelder Representative Johnson

Cosponsors: Representatives Adams, J., Beck, Butler, Dovilla, Perales, Retherford, Rosenberger, Terhar, Young, Brenner, Buchy, Budish, Huffman, Kunze, Phillips, Pelanda, Landis, Pillich, Anielski, Barborak, Bishoff, Fedor, Milkovich, Adams, R., Amstutz, Antonio, Baker, Barnes, Blair, Blessing, Boose, Boyce, Brown, Burkley, Carney, Celebrezze, Conditt, Damschroder, Derickson, DeVitis, Driehaus, Duffey, Gerberry, Gonzales, Green, Grossman, Hackett, Hagan, C., Hagan, R., Hall, Hayes, Henne, Hill, Hood, Hottinger, Lynch, Maag, McClain, McGregor, O'Brien, Patterson, Ramos, Roegner, Rogers, Romanchuk, Ruhl, Scherer, Schuring, Sears, Slaby, Slesnick, Smith, Sprague, Stautberg, Stebelton, Stinziano, Strahorn, Sykes, Thompson, Wachtmann, Winburn Speaker Batchelder

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To urge the President of the United States, the 1
United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and 2
the Congress of the United States to take prompt 3
action to reduce the processing time for veterans' 4
disability benefit claims. 5

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO
(THE SENATE CONCURRING):

       WHEREAS, The men and women of the United States armed forces 6
have bravely and selflessly served our country; and 7

        WHEREAS, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs 8
disability benefits program provides monetary support to veterans 9
whose military service has caused or aggravated a disabling 10
medical condition; and 11

        WHEREAS, The number of veterans applying for disability 12
benefits has increased in recent years because of the large number 13
of new veterans and the expansion of eligibility for benefits for 14
certain service-connected diseases; and 15

        WHEREAS, The United States Government Accountability Office 16
reports that between fiscal years 2009 and 2012, the average 17
length of time for the Department of Veterans Affairs to complete 18
a disability claim increased from 161 days to 260 days; that the 19
number of backlogged claims, which have been awaiting a decision 20
for more than 125 days, has more than tripled since September 21
2009; and that appeals processing at the Department's regional 22
offices has slowed by 56 per cent over the last several years; now 23
therefore be it 24

        RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly 25
of the State of Ohio, urge the President of the United States, the 26
United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Congress of 27
the United States to take prompt action to reduce the processing 28
time for veterans' disability benefit claims; and be it further 29

        RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives 30
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the 31
President of the United States, the United States Secretary of 32
Veterans Affairs, the President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the 33
United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the United States 34
House of Representatives, each member of the Ohio Congressional 35
delegation, and the news media of Ohio. 36

WHEREAS, The men and women of the United States armed forces	6
have bravely and selflessly served our country; and	7

WHEREAS, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs	8
disability benefits program provides monetary support to veterans	9
whose military service has caused or aggravated a disabling	10
medical condition; and	11

WHEREAS, The number of veterans applying for disability	12
benefits has increased in recent years because of the large number	13
of new veterans and the expansion of eligibility for benefits for	14
certain service-connected diseases; and	15

WHEREAS, The United States Government Accountability Office	16
reports that between fiscal years 2009 and 2012, the average	17
length of time for the Department of Veterans Affairs to complete	18
a disability claim increased from 161 days to 260 days; that the	19
number of backlogged claims, which have been awaiting a decision	20
for more than 125 days, has more than tripled since September	21
2009; and that appeals processing at the Department's regional	22
offices has slowed by 56 per cent over the last several years; now	23
therefore be it	24

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly	25
of the State of Ohio, urge the President of the United States, the	26
United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Congress of	27
the United States to take prompt action to reduce the processing	28
time for veterans' disability benefit claims; and be it further	29

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives	30
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the	31
President of the United States, the United States Secretary of	32
Veterans Affairs, the President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the	33
United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the United States	34
House of Representatives, each member of the Ohio Congressional	35
delegation, and the news media of Ohio.	36