Vt.'s US Rep. Says Vets Need Better Health Records

U.S. Rep. Peter Welch said Monday he is co-sponsoring a bill that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Defense Department to find a better way to share health information so veterans can have better access to their military health records.

Delays in accessing the records can sometimes cause delays in getting VA benefits, said Welch, a Vermont Democrat.

‘‘This bill would put into legislation, what the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs have agreed to do and have been trying to do for 15 years,’’ Welch said. ‘‘And that is, make a seamless, one-stop-shopping medical record for all of our veterans.’’

He announced his support for the 21st Century Health Care for Heroes Act at a Montpelier news conference.