In 1981, while delivering his first Inaugural Address, President Ronald Reagan said the following "As for the enemies of freedom, those who are potential adversaries, they will be reminded that peace is the highest aspiration of the American people. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it; we will not surrender for it, now or ever."
Noting the constant struggle between maintaining peace and preserving freedom, President Reagan captured the spirit of the holiday we observed just yesterday, Veterans Day.
When the holiday was first observed over 94 years ago, it was to honor world peace and the Armistice Agreement. In 1954, President Eisenhower signed into law an Act of Congress that would rename the holiday Veterans Day in honor of those whose service promoted peace and freedom.
Having fought a decade-long in Iraq and Afghanistan now more than ever, it is important to honor the men and women who have volunteered to serve this nation's military. Honoring their service means more than remember their sacrifice - it means providing them with the proper care and attention they need and deserve.
That is why it is important that this Veterans Day, we stop and think about how our nation's heroes are being treated and demand more of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Over the last several years the VA, which still files and process over half of its work and claims using paper, has allowed an enormous backlog to pile up. In fact, this past year, more than 250,000 veterans waited a year or more to receive their benefits for injuries sustained while on active duty.
And while the average veteran waits 273 days to receive word on their claim, in California the backlogs are so bad that wait times can still be as high as 588 days in Los Angeles or 579 days in Oakland.
Despite the fact that it seems like there is little to no hope for the time being, to Secretary Eric Shinseki's credit, the VA has answered the call and worked diligently to reduce the waiting time and backlogs that plague the current system.
Since March, the VA has reduced the number of veterans waiting more than 125 days for their benefits claims to be processed by nearly a third.
It is their goal that by 2015, through the implementation of their strategic plan, centered on reforming the claims process by computerizing records and making the switch to an electronic filing system, no veteran will have to wait longer than 125 days for their claim to be processed.
And despite the fact that the government of late hasn't shown they can use technology and websites effectively, recent legislation passed by the House of Representatives should help ensure the VA Affairs meets its goal by 2015.
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On Oct. 28, the House passed H.R. 2189 by a vote of 401-1. Titled, "Establishing Commission or Task Force to Evaluate the Backlog of Disability Claims" the bill does just what its name implies and creates a task force to provide suggestions and oversight to the Department as it works to meet its goal of reducing wait times.
And in the spirit of Veterans Day, the House passed another three bills that same day that were also designed to help our nation's veterans.
Those bills were, H.R. 2481, which would help create more economic opportunities for our veterans by allowing the department the ability to reallocate funding.
The other two, H.R. 1405 and H.R. 2011 would make it easier for veterans to appeal claim denials and improve access to educational opportunities.
So in addition to saying thank you - "two words every veteran deserves to hear" -- I encourage you to look into these important pieces of legislation. Look into the troubles at the VA and demand more be done.
Hopefully, we can all do a better job honoring the men and women who served in uniform because as Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs said "the willingness of America's veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude."
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