John's Record • John's Bill• In the Press• What Others Say • Standing Up for Our Veterans
Command Sergeant Major, Retired
I asked John Hall for the opportunity to write you, because, as a veteran myself, I wanted to let you all know how appreciative I am of his tireless work on behalf of our brave men and women. Last week marked an important milestone in his work on behalf of veterans. On Wednesday, John's bill, the Disability Claims Modernization Act, passed the House of Representatives by a margin of 429-0. This bill represents the most sweeping and important overhaul of our national Veterans' Affairs system in decades, and it would not have happened without John Hall's unyielding commitment to ensuring that our nation's veterans receive care that is truly worthy of their sacrifice.
When John came to Congress, he was given the unique and important opportunity to serve as Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance, a position which he has embraced with incredible vigor and passion. When his bill arrived at the full Veterans' Affairs Committee, on which we both serve, Congressman Hall presented a picture of a VA system in distress. In 2007, more than 800,000 claims for disability assistance from veterans were pending in the VA, and the number was growing rapidly -- expected to exceed more than one million in 2009. The time between when a claim was filed and assistance delivered had ballooned to an average of more than six months, with many veterans or their surviving relatives waiting years or even decades to collect on disability pension claims.
I have seen first hand John Hall's commitment to our veterans. From his authoring of this significant piece of legislation, to his support for the GI-Bill and his casework on behalf of veterans who come into his district offices seeking assistance with claims that had not been delivered upon, you have in Congressman Hall a Representative who not only cares deeply for our veterans, but who has been able to achieve real and meaningful results on their behalf. The strong, bi-partisan consensus that this bill has achieved is a testament to that commitment.
I am honored to consider Representative Hall a friend and colleague, and this district is fortunate to have such a dedicated Congressman working on its behalf.
Gratefully,
Representative Tim Walz
Command Sergeant Major, Retired
