HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 6

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Bill McCamley

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND PERSONNEL TO THE DEPARTMENT'S ALBUQUERQUE REGIONAL OFFICE TO AID IN THE EXPEDITIOUS PROCESSING OF NEW MEXICO VETERANS' REQUESTS AND APPEALS; REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO WORK TO ADDRESS VARIOUS ISSUES AFFECTING NEW MEXICO'S VETERANS.

     WHEREAS, the stated mission of the United States department of veterans affairs is to "fulfill President Lincoln's promise '[t]o care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan' by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's veterans"; and

     WHEREAS, the department of veterans affairs provides a number of essential services to veterans, including services related to employment, education and health care; and

     WHEREAS, veterans rely on services provided by the department to help them lead healthy, successful and productive lives following service to and great sacrifice for their country; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is home to more than one hundred seventy thousand veterans who have courageously served the nation; and

     WHEREAS, the department serves many New Mexico veterans through its regional office located in Albuquerque; and

     WHEREAS, many New Mexico veterans live in rural parts of New Mexico and have difficulty accessing the services of the department, including health care; and

     WHEREAS, veterans seeking services at the Albuquerque regional office are frequently met with significant delays in the handling of their requests and appeals, which prevent the veterans from accessing and using the important benefits and services offered by the department and paid for by a grateful nation; and

     WHEREAS, many veterans are not aware of the scope of benefits and services, including online services, available to them; and

     WHEREAS, with additional funding and personnel in the Albuquerque regional office, delays in the handling of requests and appeals could be reduced, which would result in improved access to veterans' services and benefits;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the United States department of veterans affairs be requested to identify and provide additional funding and personnel to the Albuquerque regional office to help reduce delays faced by veterans who seek services in that office; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States department of veterans affairs be requested to process the requests and appeals of New Mexico veterans at the Albuquerque regional office, rather than outside the state, and to streamline the processing of veterans' requests through policy revisions, which could help reduce delays in service; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico congressional delegation be requested to work to obtain additional funding for the Albuquerque regional office for use in processing and adjudication of veterans' requests and appeals and for use in program outreach initiatives to help educate veterans, including those who live in rural New Mexico, about the benefits and services available to them through the federal department; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico congressional delegation be requested to work to introduce or amend federal legislation affecting veterans work force development and veterans whose service records have been lost or destroyed; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the United States secretary of veterans affairs, the New Mexico secretary of veterans' services, the Albuquerque regional office of the United States department of veterans affairs and the members of the New Mexico congressional delegation.

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