SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY VISIT TO NEW HAMPSHIRE

(Washington, D.C.) – Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement on Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki’s visit to the Manchester Veterans Affairs Regional Office this morning: 

“We have a responsibility to provide our veterans the resources and services they need when they return home.  The Secretary’s visit to the Manchester Regional Office is a welcome step toward addressing the needed improvements within the Veteran Affairs system and while the Manchester office is ahead of the curve in processing cases, we have much more to do both locally and nationally.  The men and women who have served our nation in uniform are often experiencing unacceptably long waits for their claims to be processed. The Administration must do more to address this issue head on and ultimately clear the backlog.

“Our veterans deserve nothing less than our full commitment, and I will continue to do all I can to make sure our veterans get everything they’ve earned and need.”

Earlier today Shaheen appeared before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs to discuss two pieces of legislation she has introduced in order to help extend benefits to same sex military couples and address the claims backlog, the Charlie Morgan Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act and the Veterans Legal Services Act.  Shaheen has also worked with the VA on the relocation of the Manchester Vet Center so that Manchester veterans have access to quality, local care.