Dependable Employment and Living Improvements for Veterans Economic Recovery Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Takano for his dedication and leadership to move these import veterans provisions through Congress.

Included in this package is my bill, the Veterans-Specific Education for Tomorrow's Health Professionals Act. The VET HP Act will create a 1-year pilot program to allow pre-med students to gain clinical observation experience at VA medical centers. I thank the chairman for his leadership in helping include this.

This legislation will not only increase opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to gain the clinical observation time they need for medical school, but it will also allow them the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of veterans' specific health needs and experiences, which we just heard about, while connecting them with the VA medical system.

In identifying and training future physicians interested in serving veterans, this legislation will, hopefully, help fill some of the estimated 30,000 medical vacancies at the Department of Veterans Affairs by creating a viable pipeline of future physicians.

Mr. Speaker, one of our highest responsibilities as a Congress is to ensure our veterans receive the timely, highest quality care they deserve from trained professionals. I am pleased that this bill, the VET HP Act, with the leadership of Chairman Takano and with my sponsorship as well, will directly support these priorities.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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