{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=5171D455-BAA5-49D9-BB25-727AC16A7038", "Heller Keeping Pressure on VA to Eliminate Disability Claims Backlog for Vets", "2016-09-26", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "NV", "Dean Heller", "H001041", "www.heller.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Dean Heller sent the following letter to the Acting Under Secretary for Benefits at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Mr. Thomas Murphy, to request an update on the progress surrounding reduction of wait times and elimination of the remaining disability claims backlog for veterans across the nation.\r\nClick here for a PDF copy of the letter.\r\nFull text of letter to Under Secretary Murphy:\r\nThe Honorable Thomas J. Murphy\r\nActing Under Secretary for Benefits\r\nU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs\r\n810 Vermont Avenue Northwest\r\nWashington, DC 20420\r\nDear Under Secretary Murphy,\r\nAs a member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, I write to you today to follow up on the progress the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has made in reducing the wait times for veterans, which the state of Nevada was once among the worst in the nation, as well as what more can be done to eliminate the remaining backlog.\u00a0 As a Co-Chair of the VA Backlog Working Group, I have been committed to addressing the veterans\u2019 disability claims backlog to ensure the process is timely and works in favor of Nevada and our nation\u2019s veterans.\r\nFor several years, I have worked to ensure the VA and veterans have the tools needed so veterans\u2019 disability claims can receive a decision within the VA\u2019s 125 day target.\u00a0 In fact, after serious leadership problems at Nevada\u2019s VA Regional Office (VARO) resulted in poor service to veterans, I called for the resignation of the director.\u00a0 Since the VARO came under new leadership, I have seen a commitment on the local level to ensuring Nevada\u2019s veterans receive timely answers and quality service from the VARO in my state.\u00a0 However, as you well know, the VA committed that it would eliminate the veterans\u2019 disability claims backlog by the end of 2015.\u00a0 It is now September 2016, and the backlog has remained stagnant nationwide at 20%, or around 77,000-80,000 backlogged claims, for the past year.\u00a0 Furthermore, the VA has instituted a new system known as the National Work Queue, but has done little to no outreach to Congress to explain how this will impact service on the local level, especially when claims may be outsourced to VAROs in another state.\r\nGiven the continual backlog, as well as changes to the disability claims process that impact my home state veterans and those across the nation, I respectfully request a meeting with you to discuss the VA\u2019s plan for eliminating the remainder of the backlog and to receive more information about the National Work Queue.\u00a0 Additionally, I also request answers to the following questions prior to this meeting.\r\n \r\nAre there plans to maintain the current number of employees working at the VARO in Nevada?\u00a0 If not, please specify the change in the number of employees, which part of the state those changes will be made, and how the VA plans to mitigate any potential reduction in employees.\r\nHas the VA developed a new plan to address the existing backlog that has continued at 20% for a year?\r\nUnder the National Work Queue, how will Members of Congress know in which VARO their constituents\u2019 claims are being processed?\u00a0 Will caseworkers be provided liaison contacts in every VARO given their local VARO may not be working on claims that originated in the state?\r\nHow are Members of Congress, under this new system, able to measure the progress and success of their individual VAROs and the impact on their constituents if claims are sent out of state?\r\n \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your response to my request, as well as the above questions, by October 10, 2016.\r\nSincerely,\r\nDEAN HELLER\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\r\nUnited States Senator\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=5171D455-BAA5-49D9-BB25-727AC16A7038"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9019211865961552, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}