Titus presses anew to move VA claim center to Vegas

WASHINGTON — Rep. Dina Titus on Wednesday pressed anew for the Department of Veterans Affairs to relocate its regional benefits office from Reno to Las Vegas, saying the move would help the agency fill jobs and improve services.

Titus, D-Nev., said in a letter to Secretary Robert McDonald the VA struggles to recruit workers to Reno, which has a reputation as “one of the worst performing offices” in the agency for claims processing. Meanwhile, she said, vacancies at the VA office in Las Vegas draw interest from around the country.

“I am concerned the current location of the office is detrimental to recruiting efforts, not only for leadership positions but also staffing needs throughout all levels of personnel,” Titus said, adding the Reno office has been without a permanent director since the summer.

Titus has been lobbying the VA to place more resources in Southern Nevada, where more than half the roughly 300,000 Nevada veterans live. Her efforts have included legislation to build a national cemetery in or near Las Vegas.

The lawmaker’s latest pitch comes as the VA announced on Monday it is undertaking a major reorganization of the sprawling agency with the goal of improving services to 22 million veterans.

“Moving the (regional office) to Las Vegas will significantly benefit both veterans and the (Veterans Benefits Administration),” Titus told McDonald.

Titus made the same points in a meeting with McDonald in September. He told her he would look at her request in the course of the agency realignment.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760. Find him on Twitter: @STetreaultDC.