President Joe Biden is set to observe the initial anniversary of a bipartisan legislation that has brought about the most significant enhancement of veterans' benefits in decades. He will do so by visiting a Veterans Affairs hospital in Salt Lake City on Thursday.
President Joe Biden will commemorate the inaugural anniversary of a legislation that represents the most substantial expansion of veterans' benefits in decades. This event will take place on Thursday, where he will be joined by Utah's Republican Governor, Spencer Cox, in highlighting the bipartisan PACT Act.
The Democratic president and the GOP governor will pay a visit to the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The purpose of this visit is to promote a law designed to enhance healthcare and disability compensation for individuals exposed to hazardous substances like burn pits, which were employed for waste disposal on military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over the past year, more than 348,000 veterans have received approval for their claims, and approximately 111,000 veterans suspected of toxic exposure have enrolled in healthcare services.
Concluding a three-state tour across the western United States, President Biden has been combining events that emphasize accomplishments from his initial term with fundraising activities to support his re-election efforts. Both Biden and Cox have emphasized the importance of bridging political divides by seeking common ground across party lines.
The matter of veterans' care holds a deeply personal significance for President Biden. He has long held the belief that his eldest son's tragic death due to brain cancer was a result of exposure to burn pits during his service overseas in the Delaware National Guard. During a fundraising event in Albuquerque on Tuesday, Biden candidly stated that his son Beau had passed away "because of Iraq."
While the expansion of benefits has been welcomed by advocates, it has posed challenges for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The department has been working diligently to recruit additional staff to manage the surge in applications. The backlog of disability claims, referring to those cases pending for at least four months without a decision, is projected to rise from its current count of around 266,000 to 730,000 by April.
VA Secretary Denis McDonough conveyed to The Associated Press in a recent interview that the department is surpassing its internal forecasts and actively striving to expedite the processing of veterans' claims.
McDonough stated, "Having encouraged them to submit their claims, our ongoing objective is to ensure that veterans have a positive interaction with us by receiving prompt responses to their claims. This stands as our major challenge."
In a subsequent part of the conversation, VA Secretary Denis McDonough reiterated to The Associated Press that the department is outpacing its initial internal projections and is dedicated to accelerating the handling of veterans' claims.
"As we've encouraged them to initiate the process of filing their claims, our aim is to maintain a positive experience for them by ensuring prompt responses to their claims," he remarked. "This presents our greatest challenge."
While there is no strict deadline for submission, individuals who submit a claim or signal their intention to do so by Monday may be eligible for retroactive payments dating back to the previous year, if their claim is approved.
Initially set for Wednesday, the original cutoff date was extended due to technical difficulties encountered with the VA website.
On Thursday, Biden also had plans to hold a campaign fundraiser for his reelection efforts before returning to Washington.
His visit to Utah was marred by a violent incident. Shortly before Biden's arrival in the state on Wednesday, FBI agents fatally shot a man suspected of making threats against Biden's life as they executed a search warrant at his residence in Provo, situated about an hour's drive south of Salt Lake City. According to court documents, the man had posted threats against the president online on Monday, claiming that he had learned about Biden's visit to Utah.
A White House official, who preferred to remain anonymous while discussing the matter, confirmed that Biden was briefed after the incident.
Utah marked the conclusion of Biden's three-stop journey this week, which began in Arizona where he announced the establishment of a new national monument near the Grand Canyon on Tuesday.
Subsequently, he proceeded to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where his itinerary encompassed a fundraising event and a tour of the forthcoming location for a wind tower manufacturing plant. This facility, previously engaged in producing Solo cups and plastics, had ceased operations over the last few years.
Biden's objective is to persuade voters that his economic strategies, featuring tax credits for clean energy, have yielded fresh employment opportunities and contributed to reduced inflation. These efforts serve as part of his bid for a second term in office.
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