WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today joined a bipartisan group of Florida lawmakers urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to immediately review the current Veterans Pensions and Survivors Pension claims processing system. Veterans in Florida have experienced significant delays in obtaining timely benefits decisions since January 2019.

“Veterans across the country deserve better than a broken claims system that makes them wait more than a year to receive the pension they’ve earned. The incessant delays and lack of communication by the VA is simply unacceptable and needs to change,” Rep. Mast said. “The VA and Congress share a common goal of better serving those who served, and the only way we can achieve this is by working together to improve this system immediately.”

The letter also requests the VA respond to concerns about insufficient communications the VA has had with the lawmakers’ offices.

Rep. Mast joined Senator Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Representatives Gregory Steube (R-FL), Ross Spano (R-FL), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Bill Posey (R-FL), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Michael Waltz (R-FL), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Val Demmings (D-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Ted Yoho (R-FL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Francis Rooney (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Frederica Wilson (D-FL) and John Rutherford (R-FL) in sending this letter.

The letter is attached.

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