The VA and Secretary Eric Shinseki
Eric Ken ShinsekiSenate confirms Trump's VA pick despite opposition from some Dems Trump VA pick boosts hopes for reform Trump VA pick faces challenge to convince senators he’s ready for job MORE have come under heavy
criticism from Congress and advocacy groups over the size of the claims backlog.
Of nearly 900,000 outstanding claims, roughly 500,000 have been sitting longer
than the department’s goal of 125 days.
Shinseki has vowed to eliminate the backlog by 2015.
Lawmakers have urged President Obama to personally get
involved in ensuring that the problem is addressed. On Monday, 67 senators —
including Majority Leader Harry Reid
Harry Mason ReidDems can’t ‘Bork’ Kavanaugh, and have only themselves to blame Dem senator: Confidential documents would 'strongly bolster' argument against Kavanaugh's nomination Senate cuts work week short after nominations deal MORE (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch
McConnell (R-Ky.) — wrote to Obama asking him to take “direction action."
“In the last four years, the number of claims pending for over a year has grown by over 2000 percent, despite a 40 percent increase in the VA’s budget,” the senators wrote. “As a reminder, during this same time period, Congress has given VA everything it has asked for in terms of more funding and more employees; however, this has not eliminated the backlog of claims.”
A group of more than 100 House members wrote the president last week also asking him to help erase the claims backlog.
