Walz Continues Fight for America's Veterans

Press Release

Today, Congressman Tim Walz lauded the final passage of a broad veterans' health care legislative package that includes two provisions he's championed. The legislation, which passed late Wednesday evening, now goes to the President for his signature. The Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 includes two Walz priorities: increasing the mileage reimbursement rate for veterans who travel to receive care at VA clinics and the Veterans Pain Care Act of 2008 that Walz authored.

"This broad legislative package includes my Veterans Pain Care Act, which will now become law. This will ensure that pain care within the VA is a national priority and will significantly improve our veterans' quality of life." said Walz. "The bill will make sure that VA's outstanding health care continues to not only get better but also focuses on addressing the mental health care of our veterans."

Walz also praised the inclusion in the bill of another important provision he's championed to increase the reimbursement rate to veterans who travel long distances for care at VA facilities. "One of the most pressing issues Speaker Pelosi and I heard from southern Minnesota's veterans at the meeting we hosted in April was increasing rural veterans access to VA health care," Walz said. "This legislation will address that problem by increasing the mileage reimbursement rate for veterans so it's equal to what government officials - including members of Congress - get when they travel."

The legislative package also contains a number of significant improvements in mental health care for veterans and their families. Among those provisions are expanded marriage and family counseling, a significant improvement in the treatment of substance abuse disorders and authorization for substantial medical facility improvement and expansion projects.

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