Congress backs bill requiring timely answers at VA hotline
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The Department of Veterans Affairs would have to ensure that all telephone calls and messages received by a crisis hotline are answered in a timely manner under a bill on its way to the president.
The Senate on Wednesday gave final legislative approval to the measure. It comes after a report that more than one-third of calls to a hotline for troubled veterans are not being answered by front-line staffers because of poor work habits and other problems.
The hotline's former director says calls frequently roll over to back-up centers where workers have less training to deal with veterans' problems.
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Republican Rep. David Young of Iowa sponsored the bill, saying "a veteran in need cannot wait for help."
The toll-free hotline number is 800-273-8255.