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LaMalfa and Carbajal Reintroduce Legislation to Help Veterans Receive Benefits

May 24, 2019
(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after partnering with Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-California) to reintroduce the Veterans Record Reconstruction Act, which eases the process for veterans to prove their eligibility for certain benefits or decorations.
LaMalfa said: "After 40 years of uncertainty for veterans from WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, it's time for the Department of Defense to establish a system to easily determine eligibility for benefits – a simple process that defines what's acceptable and what's not. Currently, veterans may go years without treatment and rack up expensive medical bills all because the process to determine eligibility for benefits is so convoluted. Many times, it can seem like veterans are sent on a wild goose chase just because there isn't a clear definition of what type documentation is required or where to get it. The Veterans' Record Reconstruction Act implements uniform guidelines to simplify this process and make veterans' lives a little bit easier."
"Our veterans sacrifice so much for this country and it is our duty as lawmakers to ensure they have access to their hard-earned benefits and services," Rep. Carbajal said. "I'm honored to reintroduce the Veterans' Record Reconstruction Act, which relieves our nation's World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam veterans of more than 40 years of uncertainty and complications, through no fault of their own, by creating an established route to access their benefits and awards."
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.
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