Washington D.C – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), along with Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), and 17 other bipartisan colleagues, have taken a significant step in supporting veterans by sending a letter to the United States National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The letter addresses concerns about the backlog of veterans’ record requests, emphasizing the critical role these records play in accessing government benefits and services.
The Access for Veterans to Records Act, passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (P.L. 117-263), authorized $60 million for NARA to alleviate the records backlog and enhance response times for veterans’ military service records requests.
In their letter, the Senators commend NARA for its efforts to address the backlog but stress the importance of ensuring that all incoming requests are met with timely responses to prevent future delays. They have requested NARA’s response to specific questions by Monday, October 16, 2023, to ensure that veterans receive the support they deserve.
Senator Katie Britt expressed her dedication to veterans, stating, “It is crucial that we always stand up for our outstanding veterans and servicemembers. They give our nation their best, and we owe them our best in return. I will continue to work to ensure our veterans are treated like the heroes that they are.”
Joining Senators Britt, Braun, and Ossoff in sending the letter were Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kans.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), John Thune (R-S.Dak.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.Mex.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.).
