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Sanchez and colleagues tell VA to get GI Bill benefits sent
September 29th, 2009, 2:47 pm · 7 Comments · posted by Dena Bunis, Washington Bureau Chief
Rep. Loretta Sanchez and nearly the entire California congressional delegation sent a letter today to Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki demanding that they get cracking to send out the educational benefits to veterans under the new Post 9/11 GI Bill.
”While I am relieved that Secretary Shinseki and the VA are now working to issue backed-up benefit checks, I am concerned that our veterans may continue to experience delays in the future,” Sanchez said in a statement today. “That possibility is unacceptable, and the VA must take the appropriate steps to ensure it can – and will – handle GI Bill claims in a timely manner.”
Sanchez, D-Santa Ana, got 46 lawmakers, including all five Republicans who represent Orange County, to sign the letter.
Click here to read my story telling stories of Orange County veterans who are still waiting for their benefits checks.
“Our veterans faithfully served the United States of America and, yet, have not been treated as the heroes they are,” said Rep. Buck Mckeon, the senior Republican on the Armed Services Committee. ”As George Washington once said, ‘The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.’ The backlog should be fixed immediately.”
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DENA BUNIS, Washington bureau chief, 202-628-6381 or dbunis@ocregister.com
CHRIS KNAP, Politics team leader, 714-796-2240 or cknap@ocregister.com
BRIAN JOSEPH, Sacramento correspondent, 916-449-6046 or bjoseph@ocregister.com
JENNIFER MUIR, County government reporter, 714-796-7813 or jmuir@ocregister.com
MARTIN WISCKOL, Politics reporter, 714-285-2867 or mwisckol@ocregister.com twitter.com/MartinWisckol
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The adage that even a broken hand clock is right twice a day has once again been proven. Kudos to Sanchez on this one.
Glad that the lawmakers are getting on the stick on this and pressuring them to act.
Now if they could just make sure that those who have served also get the quality medical care they need and deserve and rehab and other benefits that will be good. That Rep who was quoted sure had it right.
Many of them risked their lives for their country. The least we can do is to see that they are taken care of with promised benefits.
it’s ridiculous. I’m a veteran waiting for my benefits and this delay has definitely put me in a financial bind. I work full time, but I still rely on my school money. I can’t imagine what’s going on for those vets who aren’t working and who live off of this money.
I’m going to have to drive to my regional office to get an advance on a LATE payment. How does THAT work???
HUSSEIN OBAMA LIES WHEN SAYING HIS HEALTHCARE PLAN WOULD NOT COVER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS!!
Obama never wants to enforce immigration laws and illegal immigrants keep receiving welfare and health care benefits as in the case of Obama’s aunt Zeituni Onyango, an illegal immigrant from Kenya yet still living in taxpayer-funded public housing in Boston. In fact, Obama, with his immigration reform, wants to naturalize twelve million illegal immigrants so they can vote for his Democratic Party.
What does Obama and health care have to do with the GI Bill? This is why you whackos aren’t getting taken seriously - you’re shooting yourselves in the foot with ridiculous posts like this. Get some facts, write an intelligent response, post it in the right place, and you’ll get some respect.
It is somewhat relevent. If we stopped having to pay for services to people who are in the country illegally, we would have more to give to legitamate and deserving causes like our Veterans.
On another note, I am amused that Loretta Sanchez opposes every mission our troops have and laughs at our four star generals when they testify before Congress, but she wants to be perceived as caring about our vets.
Why doesn’t she reimburse taxpayers for her 8 trips to Italy on taxpayer dime or her snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef on taxpayer dime or her bird watching penguins in Antartica on taxpayer dime? That sure could pay for a lot of Veterans benifits.
Well, I went to the bread line on Friday and waited for 6 hours for my check. I must say, it was worth it, only because I got the actual check in my hand, and I was able to meet some very cool fellow vets. It was a LONG day, but we all made the best of it.
Good luck to all those struggling vets. I hope you all get everything straightened out =)