April 30, 2024 - WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) has announced she has joined legislation to ensure veterans whose military records were lost by the government, through no fault of their own, can receive the benefits they’ve earned. The Fred Hamilton Veterans’ Lost Records Act would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to grant disability compensation claims to veterans using other documentation instead of military treatment records.

“Our nation’s veterans sacrificed so much for us, and it’s unacceptable that red tape would keep them from receiving the benefits and care they deserve,” said Senator Rosen. “I’ve joined this commonsense legislation to allow veterans whose records were lost by the government to still access their hard-earned benefits. I’ll always stand up for veterans and the benefits they’ve earned.”

“The Nevada VFW fully supports the Fred Hamilton Veterans’ Lost Records Act, and applauds Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto for their bill co-sponsorship,” said Daniel Sanders, Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Department of Nevada Legislative Representative. “Enabling the Department of Veterans Affairs to utilize all available resources to verify benefit eligibility ensures that veterans are able to receive the benefits and support that they earned, and need, after proudly serving our nation.”

Senator Rosen has been leading bipartisan efforts to support Nevada’s veterans. Last month, she introduced bipartisan legislation to permanently maintain a helpline for veterans to obtain information and assistance with all services from the VA. In the recent bipartisan government funding package, Senator Rosen secured funding to increase access to affordable housing for veterans, continue building Nevada’s first national veterans cemetery in Elko, and increase funding for veteran’s access to telehealth. She also recently joined a bipartisan letter to the National Archives and Records Administration seeking answers about the backlogs of requests for veterans’ service records necessary to obtain critical benefits and services like medical treatment, unemployment assistance, and emergency housing. 
Source: Senator Jacky Rosen