AUSTIN—Working with Governor Perry and Speaker Straus, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst today directed the Texas Veterans Commission to reinstitute the "State Strike Force Team" that was implemented in 2009 to help reduce the federal backlog of veterans' claims for disability benefits.

"As a proud veteran myself, it is unconscionable that the federal government penalizes states with backlogs for welfare but makes someone who has volunteered to serve our country in uniform wait well over 125 days – and often more than a year – for benefits they have earned," said Lt. Governor Dewhurst. "These individuals did not wait when asked to serve our country, and they shouldn't be asked to wait for their country to return the favor."

On July 16, 2012, the Texas Veterans Commission informed the Texas Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations that the backlog of veteran claims in Texas has more than doubled since 2010. In January 2010, the total pending caseload in Texas was 50,934 claims and 15,644 appeals. As of July 9, 2012, it had reached 107,279 claims and 28,183 appeals.

"While I appreciate the large number of claims that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has processed over the last two years and their target for this year, this backlog created by an overly-complicated application system is unacceptable," Lt. Governor Dewhurst said.

In November 2011, Lt. Governor Dewhurst charged the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations to review the benefits claims process for filing with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs through the Texas Veterans Commission's Claims Representation and Counseling program.

The "State Strike Force Team" of claims counselors was implemented in 2009. These counselors worked through the Texas Veterans Commission to provide veterans assistance with their claims and ultimately helped reduce the backlog.