Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. WALBERG. Madam Chair, I rise having an amendment at the desk.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. WALBERG. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of an important issue: preserving veterans' choices over their prosthetic services.
While I am prepared to withdraw this amendment--we have had discussions about that--I would hope that I can continue to work with the chairwoman as we move to conference on improving the underlaying report language.
Last year, the VA released a draft proposed rule which would have significantly curtailed veterans' choices in how they receive their prosthetic or orthotic care.
While we appreciate the Secretary's efforts to address the concerns of the veterans, I remain concerned that the proposal does not go far enough to protect veterans' ability to select high-quality, convenient, and efficient services from community-based providers of their choice.
This proposal would have upended more than 60 years of successful partnership between the VA and local prosthetists who contract with the VA and have long-term relationships with their patients. This long-term relationship is critical for the unique, patient-centered care needs of prosthetics services.
I would also like to thank my colleague, Representative Rutherford, for working on this issue with me.
Madam Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) to at least assure me that we can continue to work on this issue together.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I appreciate the gentleman from Michigan for bringing attention to this important issue. We can all agree that we want to let veterans choose the best prosthetics provider for his or her needs.
As you know, we included report language expressing concern on this issue, but I do agree that more needs to be done. We want the best care for our veterans, and we need to find a way forward to determine the appropriate next steps.
We should work with the authorizers and the VA to thoughtfully work on this issue to find the best solution for veterans needing artificial limbs.
I commit to working with the gentleman on this issue. We are not quite ready to make a decision on the best approach to this as we move towards conference. I thank the gentleman for his willingness to withdraw the amendment.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. WALBERG. Madam Chair, based upon that and, also, an understanding of the chairwoman's willingness to at least look at how we can find an adequate solution to meet the needs of our servicemembers who have given their all for our great country, I am willing to continue working on that.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time, and I am willing to withdraw this amendment.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source