From the Office of Utah Congressman Jim Matheson

MATHESON NEWS
Second Congressional District

For Further Information
Alyson Heyrend: (801) 455-5593 (cell)
www.house.gov/matheson

May 04, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Matheson to VA: No Bonuses While Disabled Vets Go Without

Salt Lake City, UT-Congressman Jim Matheson today expressed outrage that senior Veterans Affairs officials would receive performance bonuses despite a backlog of more than 400,000 disabled veterans' claims. 

Matheson said he'd support legislation to place a hold on this year's bonuses to VA managers until the backlog of disability claims has been reduced.

"It's unconscionable that the financially-strapped VA would pay bonuses to senior career officials while the community they serve-disabled veterans-wait for months for help," said Matheson. "Something is badly out of whack."

Matheson was reacting to a news account of a list of 2006 bonuses to senior Veterans Administration officials, totaling more than $3.8 million. Among those reportedly receiving a bonus of $33,000 was the deputy undersecretary for benefits, who helps manage a disability claims system with a backlog of between 400,000 and 600,000 claims.

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Alyson Heyrend
Communications Director
240 East Morris Ave. #235
South Salt Lake, UT 84115
(801) 486-1236 (phone)
(801) 455-5593 (cell)
(801) 486-1417 (fax)