WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Fred Keller recently led a special order on the House Floor with six of his Republican colleagues to bring attention to the veterans’ records backlog at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), an issue that is preventing America’s veterans from obtaining critical benefits that they earned through their service.
Participating members also highlighted the RECORDS Act as a solution, legislation introduced by Rep. Keller, R-Middleburg, that would direct the NPRC to fully re-open and develop a comprehensive plan to tackle the backlog of veterans’ records requests.
The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) is the federal entity responsible for processing documentation and records requests necessary for veterans to access VA benefits, adjudicate disability claims, and request a commendation, award, or regalia. The NPRC cut its operations during the pandemic, resulting in a backlog of more than a half a million requests, some dating back to February of 2020.
Since last November, Congressman Keller has been leading the effort in Congress to pressure the NPRC to take all necessary actions to eliminate the growing backlog of unprocessed records requests. He and several bipartisan colleagues have repeatedly called for the NPRC to work with Congress toward a solution.
This April, Keller sent a letter to David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)—which manages the NPRC—requesting immediate action to eliminate the backlog and demanding information about the administration’s plans to expedite veterans’ records requests.
In May, Keller participated in the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs’ Member Day hearing to share the frustrations he has heard from constituents related to the backlog of unprocessed requests.
In June, Keller introduced the RECORDS Act, legislation that directs the NPRC to fully re-open to pre-pandemic staffing levels and issue a report to Congress on efforts to eliminate the backlog. The bill has since attracted 57 cosponsors.
In July, Keller and Oversight Committee Ranking Member James Comer (KY-01) led a letter to Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, calling for an immediate hearing on the matter.
In September, Keller introduced an amendment during the Oversight Committee’s budget markup to authorize $10 million in emergency funds to equip NARA to quickly address the backlogged requests. The amendment passed by a voice vote.
Sen. Toomey urges return of
federal workforce to address delays
U.S. Senators Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and 41 senators this week sent a letter to the heads of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the General Services Administration (GSA), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to request immediate action to transition federal workers back to in-person operations.
In the letter, the senators cite the “widespread lack of responsiveness and accessibility across the federal government on account of current agency work plans,” which have kept workers out of the office and have contributed to huge delays for government services.
“Businesses have now reopened, children and teachers have returned to in-person learning, and health care and public safety workers continue to show up for work. Yet we continue to hear from constituents in our states about a lack of responsiveness from federal agencies,” the senators wrote.
The senators cite several examples of the impact this extended absence has had on government services:
• Department of Veterans Affairs – As of August 30, 2021, there were almost 182,000 claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs that were backlogged because of a pause of in-person Compensation and Pension examinations last year.
• Internal Revenue Service – As of October 2, 2021, the IRS had 6.8 million unprocessed individual 2020 tax year returns.
• Social Security Administration – Social Security offices throughout the country have been closed except for those beneficiaries who make an appointment and are deemed to be in “dire need.” Social Security recipients have been forced to use unreliable mail services to send personal identifying information or paperwork to local field offices as most offices will not accept these documents in person.
State working to ensure school
children have nutritious food
To support Pennsylvania’s dairy farmers and ensure school-aged children have access to nutrient-rich milk, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Education Secretary Noe Ortega this week announced waivers to allow flexibility in the types of milk provided in student meals and dairy producers flexibility in the products and packaging they supply to reduce food waste.
“Milk is a vital source of nutrients for children,” Redding said. “It fuels their bodies, and their ability to think and learn. The departments of Agriculture and Education continue to work with the federal government and private sector to ensure that children have access to healthy food and that wholesome products do not go to waste. This measure supports the dairy producers who are the backbone of our economy.”
Milk is a vital component of the child nutrition programs and provides a composition of nutrients that cannot be replicated. Providing flexibility to the regulations to ensure that milk can still be provided in variety and fat contents that do not normally meet the regulations will help to ensure that milk can still be provided as part of the school breakfast and lunch. It also helps ensure that temporary packaging shortages do not lead to wasted dairy products.
Federal waivers are already in place to help shift elements of meals to foods that meet nutrition requirements but vary from normal requirements as schools adjust during supply chain disruptions.
This flexibility is a temporary option for schools unable to meet milk requirements, and schools must receive approval from PDE.
Secretaries Ortega and Redding notified Pennsylvania’s USDA school and childcare feeding program sponsors, and milk processors and suppliers of these measures yesterday.
Pennsylvania is home to nearly 520,000 cows producing more than 10.6 billion pounds of milk annually. The industry supports 53,300 jobs and contributes $14.1 billion to the state’s economy.
Rep. Meuser’s bill will
improve SBA oversight
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, this week released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed his Small Business 7(a) Loan Agent Oversight Act.
“The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 7(a) Loan Program is an important tool for helping small businesses gain access to capital. Unfortunately, the SBA’s Office of Inspector General has highlighted the need for improved oversight of 7(a) loan agents due to increased risk of fraud associated with these agents.
“My bill will address these issues by requiring the SBA to develop and publish an annual portfolio risk analysis for Congress on loan agents that operate within the program. This analysis will ensure that both Congress and the SBA remain good stewards of taxpayer dollars and ensure that American small businesses can continue to benefit from the SBA’s flagship loan program.
The bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Credit Risk Management (OCRM) to submit an annual report to Congress regarding the performance of and risk associated with loans generated through loan agent activity.
The bill will ensure that Congress receives the data it needs to conduct proper oversight. It will provide information on how many loans have been processed with the assistance of loan agents and default rates of loans that are associated with the loan agents.
Additionally, the legislation requires the SBA to perform a risk analysis on agents who operate within the program.
DCNR taking steps to reduce
plastics, waste at state parks
Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn this week announced that the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is taking steps to reduce the use of plastics and amount of waste generated from food concessions at Pennsylvania state parks.
As contracts with food providers are renewed, new provisions prevent the use of plastic bags, straws, and cutlery. These items are to be replaced with compostable, paper, wooden or plant fiber alternatives.
“As the state’s conservation leader, DCNR strives to model practices that conserve and sustain our natural resources, and we are now extending that to the concessions that provide snacks at our state parks,” Dunn said. “This step will help to reduce the emissions generated through plastic production and eliminate the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills.”
New contract language also requires food providers to minimize the use of paper straws and disposable utensils, and when on-site composting is available at a state park to work with DCNR to convert as many of their food service products to compostable, paper-based forest product alternatives and compost them and food waste.