OUR VETERANS DESERVE BETTER WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 3230, the Veterans’ Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act. This bipartisan legislation passed with a 420-5 vote, and is designed to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs and reform the quality of care provided to our nation’s veterans. Congressman Westmoreland supported this legislation. “These brave men and women are our family members, neighbors, and friends, and they deserve the best we can offer,” stated Westmoreland. “By improving quality of care, the number of clinics, and hiring more doctors, we can provide our veterans with the care they deserve. This bill will help keep us moving forward so that we can ensure the VA does its job.” The bill authorizes reforms that allow veterans to seek private care if they have an appointment wait of time of 14 days or longer, or if they live more than 40 miles from a VA facility. It also authorizes the leasing of 27 new clinics, and allows for hiring of more doctors and nurses to provide care. There will be audits on workers performances based on wait-times and scheduling, to ensure that secret lists and system manipulation does not occur. To further increase accountability, provisions were added that allow for firing senior executives for offenses, which were pulled from a previous House passed bill. “This bipartisan bill is a huge step in increasing oversight in the VA and ensuring our veterans are treated with respect,” stated Westmoreland. “We must continue to look into the root of the problem and seek to change the culture of the VA all together. Our veterans deserve better, and I will continue to support legislation that gives better quality of life to our nation’s bravest.” The Veterans’ Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act now heads to the Senate, and Congressman Westmoreland strongly urges Senate Majority Reid to quickly bring this bill to a vote.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 13:26:32 +0000
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