Rep. Nye Seeks Answers on GI Bill Delays

10/14/09 -- Washington, DC – Just days after meeting with local veterans who have been struggling to obtain benefits under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, Congressman Glenn Nye (VA-02) is asking for answers from Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki.

At a hearing of the House Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday morning, Secretary Shinseki told Congressman Nye and others that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) had anticipated that there would be delays in administering the tuition benefit program, but that they had underestimated the magnitude of the problem.

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“The new GI Bill has the potential to boost the economy and to help returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan build a strong future for themselves and their families. I’m pleased that the VA has taken steps to ensure these delays don’t happen again, but the fact remains that this problem should have been prevented,” said Congressman Glenn Nye.

“Excuses don’t help veterans who are waiting for their benefits right now. If the VA knows they are going to need additional resources to get the job done, they need to ask for them in advance, not after the fact,” Nye added.

Following the hearing, Nye submitted a series of follow-up questions for Shinseki, asking for answers about what went wrong and what steps the VA is taking to solve the problem before the start of the spring semester.

Nye’s questions for Shinseki included:

* If internal estimates showed that there would be delays in processing tuition payments, why did the Department of Veterans Affairs not seek additional resources or support prior to the start of the academic year?
* Is there a system now in place at the VA to evaluate the Department’s readiness to process benefit claims for the upcoming semester, and if shortfalls are again expected, will the VA request assistance in advance?
* What steps is the VA taking to ensure that students receive the full benefits to which they are entitled?

This past Saturday afternoon in Virginia Beach, Nye met with several local veterans who have not yet received tuition benefits from the new GI Bill. Nye has been working with the VA to help expedite tuition benefits for veterans facing severe hardship as a result of the delayed payments.

Veterans who have not received their GI Bill tuition benefits can apply for an emergency $3,000 payment online at http://www.va.gov or at a VA Regional Office. Anyone needing additional assistance is encouraged to contact Congressman Glenn Nye’s office at 757-326-6201 or online at http://nye.house.gov/.

Source: Congressman Glenn Nye