Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004-Resumed

DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2004-RESUMED

Mr. SCHUMER. I thank my friends from Missouri and Maryland for engaging us in this colloquy, and appreciate their efforts to work with us on addressing our concerns with the CARES process. Among these concerns, I am particularly pleased that the managers of this bill have agreed to work with us in addressing the participation of veterans at hearings held by the CARES Commission. The participation of veterans is critical to a process that so directly impacts the quality of healthcare they receive from the VA. It is my understanding that the managers have committed to addressing this specific issue by presenting language to the conference that would recognize the benefits of and the need to have CARES related hearings within 30 miles of all facilities facing closure or a reduction in services, as well as the importance of veteran participation at these hearings. I also understand that the managers have committed to presenting language to the conference that encourages the VA to hold additional hearings in all affected communities following the Secretary's final recommendation.