US Sen. Sherrod Brown calls on VA to expedite processing benefit claims

YOUNGSTOIWN — At a press conference here today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Avon, called on the Department of Veterans Administration to make "immediate and necessary changes" to eliminate its backlog of nearly 490,000 claims filed by disabled veterans and their caregivers for services and benefits they have earned.

Brown, a senior member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said he will introduce two pieces of legislation aimed at reducing the backlog, which he added is one of the most-significant challenges facing the VA.

Brown made his statements at the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission offices at Oakhill Renaissance Place, 345 Oak Hill Ave., Youngstown.

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