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Vermont's U.S. Representative Says Vets Need Better Health Records

Vermont's lone representative to the U.S. House of Representatives says the nation's veterans need better access to their health records from their time in the military.

Democratic Representative Peter Welch said Monday he's a co-sponsor of legislation that would require the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans' Affairs to find a better way to share records.

Welch was joined by Vermont veterans advocates who said delays in getting military records to the VA can delay claims for benefits the veterans are entitled to.

Welch says the DoD and the VA have been working on the issue for 15 years, but they haven't solved the problem.

Welch says the 21st Century Health Care for Heroes Act has dozens of sponsors from both political parties so he's hopeful it will pass.

Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.