LaMalfa and Carbajal Introduce Bill to Help Veterans Receive Benefits

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after partnering with Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-California) to introduce the Veterans Record Reconstruction Act, which eases the process for veterans to prove their eligibility for certain benefits or decorations.

LaMalfa said: "After a fire destroyed millions of WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans' files over 40 years ago, the Department of Defense hasn't yet put into place a good system to reconstrict their history and determine their eligibility for benefits. Simply put, the Veterans' Record Reconstruction Act will make it easier for veterans that have dealt with this headache for so long to access the services they've earned. With uniform guidelines in place, there will be no confusion as to what's acceptable and what's not, and that makes life easier for everyone involved."

Carbajal said: "We have an obligation to ensure that our veterans that have sacrificed so much for our country have access to the services and benefits they have earned. The Veterans' Record Reconstruction Act will establish a much-needed pathway for veterans forced to reconstruct their records and finally provide clarity for our nation's World War II, Korean War and Vietnam-era veterans after more than 40 years of uncertainty."

The Veterans' Record Reconstruction Act requires the Department of Defense to develop guidelines for the use of unofficial sources of information in determining benefits and decoration eligibility when a veteran's service records are incomplete due to damage caused to the records while in the possession of the Department of Defense.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.