U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. held a press conference at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3448 in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, to honor local veterans and discuss his newly passed legislation, H.R. 1286, known as the Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act.
Bresnahan was accompanied by local veterans including VFW Post 3448 Commander Greg Schultz, second-generation veteran Tony Andriola, and Senior Vice Commander Jackie Boucher. Monroe County Commissioners Chairman John Christy and Vice Chairman David Parker were also present.
“At the heart of everything we do is the belief that government should work better for the people it serves, and that starts with our veterans,” stated Rep. Bresnahan. He emphasized that veterans should not face bureaucratic obstacles when accessing their benefits.
The Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act aims to make VA forms more user-friendly by requiring a study conducted by a nonpartisan research entity. The VA Secretary will then report findings to Congress and implement recommendations.
Rep. Bresnahan introduced this bill on February 13, 2025, which passed unanimously out of the House Committee on Veteran’s Affairs on May 6, 2025. It was approved by the U.S. House with a vote of 386-1 on May 19, 2025.
During the event, Bresnahan also announced plans for a new initiative called the BresnaVan—a mobile office intended to expand constituent services across Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District.
“Our mission is to make government more accessible, responsive, and present in every corner of the district,” said Rep. Bresnahan regarding the initiative.
