OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Veterans' Access to Child Care Act

Floor Speech

By: Susie Lee
By: Susie Lee
Date: Feb. 7, 2019
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Veterans

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Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chairman, my amendment clarifies that every veteran is able to access childcare services guaranteed by the underlying bill, regardless of whether they are using the services at a VA center, medical center, or a vet center that is not on the campus of a VA facility.

I am pleased to be joined in offering this bipartisan amendment by my Republican colleague Congresswoman Lesko from Arizona. I would also like to thank Congresswoman Brownley for leading this bill, as well as Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Roe for their assistance and leadership on this vital issue.

No veteran should be forced to choose between caring for their children or caring for themselves. In several States, including my home State of Nevada, veterans use both the VA medical centers and the community-based vet centers to access the care they need.

Vet centers provide a wide array of social and psychological services to help veterans readjust to civilian life, and I am very proud of the work they do to serve those who served all of us.

For many of those who do not have access to a local VA medical center, vet centers are the only VA facilities they can use. To ensure that all veterans and, in particular, women veterans are able to receive the care they need, our amendment would clarify that any veteran receiving care, whether at a VA facility or an off-VA-campus vet center, would be eligible for the childcare authorized under this legislation.

We never want any veteran to choose between receiving the care and support they need or caring for their child. Our amendment would guarantee that all veterans would be able to access care regardless of where and how they seek treatment.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano).

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Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chairman, I have no other speakers, and I am prepared to close at this time, if my colleague is as well.

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Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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