BANGOR — One of Maine's U.S. representatives is calling on the National Archives to make official records more readily available to veterans.

Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, a veteran himself, said the National Personnel Records Center should be fully reopened so veterans can use records to access benefits. The records center is an agency of the National Archives and it holds personnel records for military members and civil service workers.

Golden said it's “nearly impossible” to get military records for veterans who need assistance. He said that makes it more difficult for veterans to access education, health and retirement benefits.

Golden is working on the effort with two Republican representatives, Rep. Cliff Bentz of Oregon and Rep. Fred Keller of Pennsylvania.