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House subcommittee presses VA on Chapter 35 payment delays, long VR&E waits and VET TEC rollout
Summary
Lawmakers pressed VA witnesses about delayed Chapter 35 survivor/dependent payments affecting tens of thousands, rising Veterans Readiness & Employment (VR&E) wait times and a VA timetable that pushes VET TEC program changes into FY2026. VA pledged data at an upcoming briefing but offered limited immediate details.
The House Veterans' Affairs subcommittee confronted Department of Veterans Affairs officials on long benefit delays and slow program rollouts Tuesday, pressing the agency for immediate answers for veterans and survivors hurt by recent service interruptions.
Ranking Member Chris Pappas opened the first substantive line of questioning by calling attention to Chapter 35 — education benefits for survivors and dependents — and told the panel he and other members learned the impacted caseload grew “from 750 people to over 75,000” through media reports. “They deserve an answer today,” Pappas said, urging the VA to send a political appointee to the committee’s upcoming hearing who will not “pass the buck.”
Kenneth Smith, executive director for Education Services at the Veterans Benefits Administration, acknowledged delays and apologized for slow communication. Smith said VA…
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