Rep. Norma Torres Reintroduces Bill to Hold VA Accountable for Disability Claims Backlog
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) reintroduced the Veterans Administration Backlog Accountability Act, legislation that requires the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to deliver a comprehensive report to Congress on the persistent backlog of VA disability compensation claims. The bill tasks the Inspector General with examining claims pending before the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and the Board of Veterans' Appeals, and reporting directly to Congress on the current status of the backlog, the VA’s efforts to address it, and any changes in the average wait time veterans experience while their claims are processed.
“The men and women who served our country shouldn’t be forced to navigate a slow, broken system to receive the benefits they were promised. Our veterans deserve timely access to care and compensation—not endless waiting and bureaucratic delays,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “ This bill will create transparency, oversight, and ensure that no veteran is left in limbo while Washington sorts itself out.”
The legislation calls for a thorough review of the root causes behind the VA’s current disability claims backlog and an evaluation of how the agency is working to address it, including staffing initiatives and the use of funds authorized under the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022. The report must also analyze how the backlog is affecting wait times for veterans seeking a decision on their claims. Additionally, it will examine the impact of the VA’s partnership with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to digitize paper-based military personnel files, and how that effort has contributed to reducing delays. Finally, the Inspector General will provide recommendations to further eliminate the backlog and improve the efficiency of claims processing.
###