Hearing of the Subcommittee on Health of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee - Opening Statement of Rep. Bronwley, Legislative Hearing

Hearing

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for calling this hearing today. It is important for us to review the legislation that has been referred to this subcommittee. It is important to hear from our colleagues on their priorities and to hear all views on how to best protect the health of those men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting this nation.

I am pleased so many of our colleagues are attending the hearing today in support of their legislation. Thank you so much for your interest in the well-being of the veteran community.

Mr. Chairman, while there are many worthy bills on the agenda today, I will focus on just a few being considered today.

I am pleased to be a cosponsor of Congressman O'Rourke's bill, H.R. 1319, the Ask Veterans Act. This bill requires the VA to conduct an annual survey over the next five years to find out if

Veterans are obtaining hospital care and medical services at the facility in a timely manner; how long it is between the time a veteran requests an appointment and the date the appointment is scheduled, the frequency with which scheduled appointments are cancelled, and the quality of hospital care or medical services received. These reports will then be posted on the VA's website.

I am also a cosponsor of Congressman Peters' bill, H.R. 2639, the Marriage and Family Therapists for Veterans Act. This bill revises the eligibility criteria for appointment to a marriage and family therapist position with the Veterans Health Administration to require a person to hold a master's degree in marriage and family therapy, or a comparable degree in mental health, from an appropriately accredited institution and to have passed the Association of Marital and Family Therapy regulatory board examination in marital and family therapy or have a marriage and family therapy license given by a state board that oversees this issue. We need to know that our men and women coming to the VA are getting the proper therapy when they come to the VA for treatment.

I am also delighted that we are considering H.R. 3471, the Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2015. This bill directs the VA to ensure that an eligible disabled veteran provided an automobile or other conveyance is given the opportunity to make personal selections relating to the automobile or other conveyance. It also included the minimum standards of safety and quality for adaptive equipment. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Chairman, I look forward to the testimony from our witnesses today and their views on how to improve upon the many bills that we are considering.

Thank you and I yield back the balance of my time.

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