Issue Position: Veterans

Issue Position

All Americans should be indebted to the men and women who served in our military. As a member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Dr. Benishek is working to improve care for our veterans so they receive all the benefits to which they are entitled and receive them quickly.

With more than 68,000 military veterans living in Northern Michigan, Dr. Benishek believes veterans' concerns must be a top priority for Congress. In an effort to effectively represent this constituency, Dr. Benishek sought a position on the Veterans' Affairs Committee to be a voice for First District veterans in the House of Representatives. Having served as a VA physician at the Oscar G. Johnson Medical Center for 30 years, he has applied this experience to his committee work and continues to focus his attention on serving our men and women in uniform.

As a former VA physician, and as a father of a daughter who served in the Afghanistan conflict, I have a strong appreciation for the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform.

The Veterans' Committee must continuously improve the quality of and access to VA health care. -- Dr. Dan Benishek

A top priority of Dr. Benishek has been to reduce the disability claims backlog at the V.A. In the Detroit Veterans Regional Office, 66 percent of disability claims pending are over 125 days old (officially backlogged).3 This is unacceptable and must be improved. Dr. Benishek has toured the Detroit Veterans Affairs Benefits Center and believes the committee must ensure full implementation of electronic records, automated ratings and quicker appeals.

Dr. Benishek is concerned the VA lacks the resources to treat the influx of returning soldiers suffering from PTSD and TBI. After visiting Afghanistan and our troops stationed there, Dr. Benishek believes the VA must pursue every option to ensure they are appropriately staffed with mental health professionals who can treat these "invisible wounds."

Dr. Benishek has the utmost respect for the men and women who serve this country. He wants to ensure that all of America's military heroes receive the benefits they have earned. Dr. Benishek is a proud father of a military veteran and is committed to continue working on behalf of Northern Michigan's veterans in Congress.

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