Thank you Mr. Chairman for yielding. I would like to welcome all of our witnesses to the subcommittee’s first hearing of the second session. 

I want to commend you Mr. Chairman for your leadership and bipartisanship in the previous session and I look forward to working with you and your staff to find meaningful solutions to improving the VBA claims processing system and reducing VBA’s disability claims backlog.

I am excited that our topic of discussion today is the use of artificial intelligence to improve the disability claims process.

As you know Mr. Chairman, this is an idea that my colleagues and I on this side of the aisle have long supported.

Whether it was in our FY08 views and estimates, or two bills that I introduced last session, H.R. 1864 and H.R. 3047, we believe that one way to truly reduce the current backlog and prevent future backlogs is to propel VA beyond a 20th century paper-based processing system.

VA must create a system where all claims are electronically scanned and rating board members have access to computerized interactive tools to assist them in the adjudicative process.

Hopefully the new system will lead to more accurate rating decisions that are delivered to our nation’s veterans in a timely manner.

While I envision an important role for artificial intelligence in the decision making process, I also concur with our witnesses who will attest that this technology should not, and will not, ever completely replace claims adjudicators.

A few weeks ago, staff from both sides of the aisle attended a briefing where VBA laid out plans to move forward with such a system and I am excited to learn more about those plans today. 

This subcommittee must ensure that this new initiative is fully funded and completed with the speed and attentiveness that our veterans deserve.

I am glad that we have representatives from both the private and academic sectors here with us today.

It is my hope that they will be able to help VA develop some of the options that are currently available in the private sector. 

While I understand that VA has a very large and unique disability claim system, there are similar systems out there and I would hope that VA would look at these systems before they re-invent the wheel.

We must improve this system so heroes like Gunnery Sergeant Cleveland do not have to wait several years to have their claim adjudicated correctly.

Mr. Chairman I extend my thanks to you and your staff for holding this hearing this afternoon and I look forward to hearing the testimony of our witnesses. I yield back the balance of my time.