Greg Walden Applauds President Signing Legislation to Help Veterans in Rural Oregon

Statement

Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) today released a statement applauding President Trump after he signed the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 into law. The bill includes a provision coauthored by Walden, which would ensure that veterans in rural Oregon no longer face backlogs and needless delays when seeking to buy a home using the benefits they earned through their service.

Currently, veterans are entitled to a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan, but they must first receive a special appraisal. Rural areas are often short on appraisers, resulting in a backlog for those seeking the service. The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 enables veterans in rural America who face a significant backlog in the appraisal process to have access to desktop appraisals.

"Our veterans selflessly served our nation and deserve the benefits they rightfully earned, like access to home loans," said Walden. "I heard several horror stories from veterans about the delays getting an appraisal for their VA-backed loan. Some waited up to nine weeks to even have an appraiser assigned to their case, making them far less competitive as prospective buyers in the housing market -- one veteran even lost his prospective home when his interest rate lock expired as he waited for an appraisal. That's unacceptable. Now, veterans living in rural America do not have to worry that they will become temporarily homeless due to a lack of available appraisers. I am thankful that Rep. Phil Roe and Rep. Mark Takano included my provision in their bill and that President Trump signed it into law, ensuring that veterans living in rural Oregon receive the services and support they deserve."

You can watch Walden's appearance at the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing on VA appraisals here.

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