Editorial: Brown’s measure right for veterans
The News-Herald – … When Ohioans talk about paying tribute, we mean it literally.
That was evidenced at the polls this November when voters overwhelmingly supported state Issue 1, which allows for the issuance of bonds to provide compensation to those who served in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts — as we have done for those who served in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
And that's why we support legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown to help speed up benefits for disabled veterans from both the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Both agencies use nearly identical definitions of disability, Brown said, but veterans still must apply to each separately.
Under his proposal, the Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements Act, or BRAVE, SSA would have to accept the eligibility of those who qualify under the VA guidelines.
"Veterans who qualify shouldn't have to go back and start over again," Brown said.
We agree.
These folks made sacrifices for us. The least we can do is cut through some of the red tape for them.
