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| As part of a district-wide tour, Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (IN-02) met Wednesday with county Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Edward Fleury and a group of Pulaski County veterans to hear concerns and issues affecting the local veterans’ community. She is shown here with (l-r) county commissioner Larry Brady, Fleury and State Rep. Doug Gutwein. |
“I encourage veterans to meet with their VSO and work with the service officer to file paperwork and expedite claims. Our goal is to remain an effective sounding board for Hoosier veterans to ensure their needs are addressed at home in Indiana and in Washington.”
According to the most recent report from the VA regional office in Indianapolis, the average wait time for a Hoosier veteran is 443 days, with over 12,000 claims pending over 125 days. During the visit, Walorski spoke with Fleury and veterans to learn more about local challenges, seeking effective ways to highlight the role of the VSO and improve veterans’ resources. Indiana’s Second District is home to an estimated 53,318 veterans.
“Pulaski veterans appreciate the continued efforts of Congresswoman Walorski to address pertinent issues facing the veteran’s community, like the VA backlog and improved resources, said Pulaski County VSO Edward Fleury. “Today’s visit in Winamac was a great opportunity to share our thoughts and concerns to ensure they are considered at the federal level.”
Fleury noted that most of the veterans he meets with in Pulaski County are older, from the Vietnam or Korean conflicts. "Often they are not aware of benefits they may be eligible for," he said. He agreed that improvements are needed at the Veterans Administration to expedite claims. Fleury added that for younger veterans, from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, "the U.S. Department of Defense is doing an outstanding job taking care of them."
Walorski visited all 10 counties of Indiana’s Second District May 29-30 to meet with various veterans groups and service officers to hear concerns and share a legislative update from her committee work and sponsored legislation in Congress.
Over the past month, Walorski led a letter from members of the Indiana delegation to VA Secretary Shinseki inquiring about the impact of the new 2.3% medical device tax on the VA and prosthetics for veterans. Just last week, a separate letter was sent to the President requesting a plan to address the lack of timeliness for VA claims, particularly a decision about the electronic transfer of medical information between the Department of Defense and the VA.
County veterans may reach VSO Edward Fleury via phone at (574) 946-3571, e-mailed at veteransoffice@pulaskicounty.
