Wounded Warrior Access Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5916) to amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for the electronic request of certain records, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members

have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5916, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5916, as amended. Representative Aguilar's Wounded Warrior Access Act would require VA to establish and maintain a secure, internet-based website to enable a claimant or their representative to make records requests related to VA claims and benefits.

Additionally, this bill would add a provision requiring VA to warn claimants about benefit scammers, provide a way to report potentially fraudulent activity, and provide a tool for claimants to search for accredited representation.

Currently, to make records requests related to VA claims and benefits, veterans or designated representatives must submit a Freedom of Information Act, otherwise known as a FOIA, or a Privacy Act Request.

Submitting this form followed by waiting for it to upload into the individual's electronic claims file, and then waiting action on the request can be very time-consuming and can negatively impact a claimant's ability to understand what records VA is evaluating and what information could better assist in a claim's positive adjudication.

Establishing and maintaining a secure, internet-based website to enable a claimant or their representative to make requests related to VA claims and benefits would modernize this essential process and assist in more timely, positive claim outcomes.

This bill would also add another tool in the toolbox for veterans when navigating the complexities of the claims process and will help veterans gain a little more autonomy over their claim.

Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 5916, as amended, the Wounded Warrior Access Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I was participating in a Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Kenya and absent during the time of votes. Had I been present, I would have voted:

YEA on Roll Call No. 424, H. Res. 1339, on Ordering the Previous Question;

YEA on Roll Call No. 425, H. Res. 1339, on Agreeing to the Resolution;

YEA on Roll Call No. 426, Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass Certain Bills (H.R. 1468, S. 4205, H.R. 7939, H.R. 7846, H.R. 7735, H.R. 5916, H.R. 8260, and H.R. 5865);

YEA on Roll Call No. 427, H.R. 884, the National Aviation Preparedness Plan Act;

YEA on Roll Call No. 428, H.R. 5774, the Expediting Disaster Recovery Act;

YEA on Roll Call No. 429, S. 2293, the Crew Act; and

YEA on Roll Call No. 430, S. 442, the BRIGHT Act.

Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress

Baird (Bucshon)

Bass (Correa)

Bush (Bowman)

Cardenas (Correa)

Conway (Valadao)

DeSaulnier (Beyer)

Dingell (Kuster)

Fallon (Nehls)

Gaetz (Cawthorn)

Higgins (NY) (Pallone)

Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)

Jones (Beyer)

Kirkpatrick (Pallone)

Lawrence (Beatty)

Lawson (FL) (Evans)

Levin (MI) (Correa)

McEachin (Beyer)

Miller (WV)

(Kim (CA))

Moore (WI) (Beyer)

Newman (Beyer)

Payne (Pallone)

Pingree (Kuster)

Rice (NY) (Deutch)

Schiff (Deutch)

Schrader (Correa)

Scott (VA) (Beyer)

Scott, Austin (Cammack)

Stansbury (Pallone)

Stevens (Kuster)

Tlaib (Bowman)

Upton (Katko)

Wexton (Beyer)

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5916, as amended, the Wounded Warrior Access Act.

H.R. 5916, as amended, would require VA to establish a secure, public-facing website that veterans can use to request a copy of their VA records. This would make VA more accessible to veterans by modernizing its systems. Specifically, the bill would make it easier for veterans to review their records before they file a claim or appeal.

Over the years, I have heard of increasing concerns from veterans about organizations that attempt to swindle veterans out of their VA benefits. This is unacceptable, and it is about time that we do something about it.

This proposal also would require VA to warn veterans about greedy claims practices when they log into the VA's website. I hope these warnings will prevent veterans from being taken advantage of by these bad actors.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 5916, the Wounded Warrior Access Act.

When veterans file claims to the VA, they are given what is called a c-file. My office has heard from countless numbers of veterans who have had trouble accessing these c-files through the VA's outdated and antiquated system. Our veterans need these files in order to access benefits that they have earned or appeal the VA's decisions about their claims.

That is why, Mr. Speaker, this legislation is so important. The veterans in the Inland Empire and across this country need an easy way to access

their information without jumping through these hoops. My bill is a commonsense solution that updates an antiquated system.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Takano and members of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee for their leadership in bringing this bill to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``aye'' on

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 11 of House Resolution 1339, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bills: H.R. 1468, S. 4205, H.R. 7939, H.R. 7846, H.R. 7735, H.R. 5916, H.R. 8260, and H.R. 5865.