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White House proposing large increase in VA funding to cut backlog
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2013/04/05/white-house-proposing-large-increase-in-va-funding-to-cut-backlog/White House proposing large increase in VA funding to cut backlog
Posted by Steve Vogel on April 5, 2013 at 4:33 pm
The White House is proposing a 13.6 percent increase in funding for veterans benefits administration, an effort to reduce the Department of Veterans Affair’s massive backlog of disability claims.
The proposed $2.5 billion for the Veterans Benefits Administration is part of an overall 4 percent increase the White House is seeking for the VA, an amount that is likely higher than most federal departments and agencies will see when the proposed 2014 budget is released next week.
“In a budget that’s taking pretty significant hits, we thought it very important to highlight … these investments,” Denis McDonough said during a briefing for reporters with VA Secretary Eric Shinseki.
The number of pending claims filed by veterans seeking compensation stood at 885,000 as of this week, including 70 percent which have been pending for more than 125 days.