I have consistently applauded Obama’s selection of General Eric Shinseki to head the Department of Veterans Affairs.
When he was selected, I posted his gracious words of acceptance, in which he said in part:
A word to my fellow veterans: If confirmed, I will work each and every day to ensure that we are serving you as well as you have served us. We will pursue a 21st-century V.A. that serves your needs.
We will open doors, new doors of opportunity so you can find a good job, support your families when you return to civilian life. And if we will always — we will always honor the sacrifices of those who have worn the uniform and their loved ones.
Well, the Boston Globe just reported that the General is working on fulfilling his promises—albeit some with additional or reiterated promises.
According to the Globe, Shinseki, in his first appearance before the House Veterans Affairs Committee since becoming secretary, made the following points:
*He is trying to reduce six-month delays in paying veterans’ disability claims.
*He is considering a major switch that would phase out paper processing, possibly by 2012. In the meantime, the VA will hire 1,100 more staff this year to deal with the backlog of cases, which typically involve paper stacks “going halfway to the ceiling.”
*He is launching a top-down review of his Department and reiterated his promise to submit a “credible and adequate 2010 budget request” that will be cost-effective while fully sensitive to veterans in need.
And, most importantly, he intends to: “. . . demand the highest levels of integrity, transparency, and performance in leading the department through the fundamental and comprehensive change it must quickly undergo. We will be measured by our accomplishments, not by our promises. ”
By the way, it was the Boston Globe that, back in early December 2008, published a story, “Veterans still waiting on disability appeals,” that highlighted some of the problems and delays our injured troops were facing with the assignment of disability ratings, appealing and reviewing such ratings, and the dire consequences for our troops of such delays and manipulations. See here.
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.