Providing Veteran Health Care

Floor Speech

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, if your son or daughter, your brother or sister was sick and needed care, but couldn't see a doctor for 3 months or 6 months or maybe over a year, wouldn't you take immediate action, do whatever it took to make sure that they were cared for?

As we stand here today, over 100,000 veterans--our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters in Hawaii and across the country--have been waiting months just to see a doctor.

In Honolulu, veterans wait an average of 145 days, sometimes longer, just to see a primary care physician for the very first time. This is infuriating to me, and it is unconscionable that our veterans are treated this way when they come home.

Last week, I heard from veterans from across the State of Hawaii, from every generation, about their struggles and frustrations in trying to receive care from the VA, some coming to me with tears streaming down their face as they begged for help.

These are my brothers and sisters. They are our family, and they need help. Immediate action must be taken.

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