Author of the letter, Congressman Van Taylor said, "The COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant challenges for every facet of life, however, just as families and businesses across the country have worked to overcome these challenges, our federal agencies must adapt to continue serving the American people.” He continued, “The failure of NPRC to process military personal records has impacted our veterans and their families, who require these records to qualify for a range of benefits. Our Veterans have made countless sacrifices and we owe it to them to process these important requests in a timely manner.”

“In dealing with this pandemic, we've learned that we must adapt, adjust, and continue to go forward. The NPRC must do the same to ensure that our servicemembers receive the proper support they deserve when it comes to obtaining their personnel records,” said Congressman Panetta. “Now more than ever, our federal government needs to work for the people of this nation. We’ll continue to work with the NPRC so that it too continues to serve those who serve our nation.”

“As a veteran, Congressman Van Taylor knows how critical timely access to NPRC records is to the veterans in Texas’s 3rd Congressional District and across the country; he has been a central leader on this issue. I thank Van for highlighting this important problem, and look forward to working with our colleagues in Congress to ensure that the NPRC has the funding and resources needed to modernize their records system and adequately address the backlog while prioritizing staff safety," said Leader McCarthy.

“Thousands of veterans and their families have faced hardships over the last nine months, but getting the benefits they have earned should not be one of them” said Ranking Member Roe. “It is imperative that the National Personnel Records Center continues to carry out their important work on behalf of the men and women they serve to ensure our heroes receive their records in a timely fashion. I am proud to join my friends and colleagues in advocating for a safe return to normal operations and a plan to address the backlog in requests as soon as possible.”