FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kawika Riley (Veterans’ Affairs)
March 25, 2009 (202) 224-9126
AKAKA ON THE NEW GI BILL: FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION
Chairman holds hearing on VA’s progress in using IT to improve benefits delivery
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, delivered a clear message on the need for VA to implement the new GI Bill on-time and effectively.
“Failure simply is not option with this program. When VA flips the switch on August 1, 2009, to implement the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, all manual and IT systems must be in place and properly functioning so that eligible recipients get their checks on time,” said Akaka. “After hearing VA’s update, I am cautiously optimistic about the progress so far.”
Chairman Akaka made the comments in response to today’s hearing on VA’s efforts to use information technology to improve the delivery of benefits. Akaka was also pleased to hear more details about VA’s contingency plans for dealing with any potential delivery problems and efforts to transform the VA benefits process to a paperless system.
Today’s statement echoes earlier remarks by Akaka on the need for VA to prepare a smooth rollout of the new educational benefit and his commitment to working with the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to achieve that goal. Chairman Akaka was a cosponsor of the Post-9/11 GI Bill and a vocal advocate for its passage. A veteran of World War II, Akaka attended college using the original GI Bill.
Akaka’s full statement, as well as the written testimony from today’s witnesses, is available here.
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Wednesday, March 25, 2009
AKAKA ON THE NEW GI BILL: FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION
